Chess Puzzle #2R046 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 810 · Beginner · endgame, master, mate, mate in 1, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king a1; queen h4; rook h1; pawns a2/b2/c4/f4/h3/h5. Black: king g8; queen b1; rook b8; bishop b4; knight a3; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb1 — rook h1→b1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc2# — knight a3→c2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 1, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/ppp2p1p/8/7P/1bP2P1Q/n6P/PP6/Kq5R w - - 5 37

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