Chess Puzzle #3U6LE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1125 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishop d2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h5; bishops c8/f8; knight g8; pawns a6/b7/d7/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6# — knight d5→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqkbn1/1p1p1p2/p7/3Np2r/4P3/3Q4/PPPB1PPP/R3K2R b KQq - 1 13

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