Chess Puzzle #2O3LM — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 894 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen g6; rook a1; bishops b3/g5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g1; rook a8; bishops c8/g7; knight h3; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg1 — rook a1→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: r1b3k1/ppp3b1/4p1Q1/3pP1Bp/8/1BN4n/PPP3PP/R5qK w - - 7 20

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