Chess Puzzle #2bBbS — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1008 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, pin, smothered mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/c1; bishop e3; knight c4; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks d8/h8; bishops d7/f8; pawns a7/e7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen a5→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6# — knight c4→d6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, pin, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rkb1r/p2bppp1/7p/q7/2N1Q3/4B3/P4PPP/R1R3K1 b k - 3 18

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