Chess Puzzle #2Nc32 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 569 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move.

Position

White: king d1; queen e1; rooks a1/g1; knights b1/e2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/e3/h4. Black: king h8; queen e4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/f5; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nbc3 — knight b1→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2# — queen e4→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/p1p2p1p/2p5/2b2b2/4q2P/1P2P3/P1PPN3/RN1KQ1R1 w - - 4 18

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