Chess Puzzle #2lOET — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1006 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; bishops e2/e3; knights c3/d3; pawns b2/c2/d5/e4/f6/g5/h4. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks b8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b4/d7; pawns a7/c6/d6/e6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb1 — knight c3→b1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Na2# — knight b4→a2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Na2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rb1kb1r/p2n1p2/2pppPp1/q2P2Pp/1n2P2P/2NNB3/1PPQB3/2KR1R2 w k - 1 22

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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