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

Rating 1003 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen d7; rooks a1/e1; bishop b3; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g1; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight h3; pawns a5/b5/c6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. 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: r4rk1/1b1Qpp1p/2p1P1p1/pp6/8/PBN4n/1PP3PP/R3R1qK w - - 7 21

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