Chess Puzzle #2pcnM — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1323 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, pin, smothered mate.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knights b1/f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights c5/d7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6# — knight f5→d6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, pin, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nxd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqkb1r/pp1npppp/3p4/1Bn2N2/5P2/8/PPP1Q1PP/RNB1K2R b KQkq - 3 8

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