Chess Puzzle #25nCE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1008 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king e1; queen d4; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/b6/d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6# — knight e4→d6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbnr/p2p1ppp/1p2p3/4P3/2PQN3/8/PP3PPP/R1B1K2R b KQkq - 0 11

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