Chess Puzzle #2ERjM — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1066 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen f8; rooks a1/f1; bishops d3/e3; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/f4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e6; rooks a8/h6; bishop c8; knights b6/e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg8 — queen e6→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf7# — knight e5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2Q1k/pp4pp/1np1q2r/3pNp2/3PnP2/P2BB2P/1P3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 8 20

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