Chess Puzzle #3QqKZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1184 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king e1; queen g7; rooks a1/h1; bishop c3; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook h8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf7# — knight g5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bk3r/pppqb1Qp/2np4/6N1/4P3/2B5/P4PPP/RN2K2R b KQ - 0 12

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