Chess Puzzle #29dHV — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1163 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e2/e3; knights c3/f5; pawns a4/b5/c4/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knights g6/h7; pawns a5/b6/c5/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g6→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6# — knight f5→d6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/3b1ppn/1p1p2np/pPpPpN2/P1P1P3/2N1B3/4BPPP/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 2 15

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