Chess Puzzle #22WNx — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 877 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king e1; rooks d1/h1; bishops c7/f1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights a6/b6; pawns b7/c5/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc7 — knight a6→c7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc7# — knight b5→c7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Nxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/1pB1pppp/nn6/1Np5/2P5/8/PP3PPP/3RKB1R b Kkq - 2 12

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.