Chess Puzzle #2N9JS — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 796 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen d7; rooks c1/f1; bishop c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g1; rooks a8/e8; knight h3; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg1 — rook f1→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: r3r1k1/p2Q1ppp/1p6/2ppP3/3P4/2B4n/PP4PP/2R2RqK w - - 6 22

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