Chess Puzzle #2ErXa — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 916 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen e7; rook e1; bishops b5/g5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g1; rook f8; bishop g7; knight h3; pawns a7/b6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg1 — rook e1→g1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf2# — knight h3→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p3Q1bp/1p4p1/1B4B1/8/7n/PP4PP/4R1qK w - - 6 25

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