Chess Puzzle #27xgv — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 967 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/g3; knights b5/c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights d7/e7; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6# — knight b5→d6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nxd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqkb1r/pp1nnppp/3p4/1Np5/2P1P3/2N3B1/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 1 9

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