Chess Puzzle #3rvLc — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1049 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king a1; queen g2; rooks b1/f1; bishop f3; knight a2; pawns a3/b2/c2/g3/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks d3/f5; knights c5/e7; pawns a5/b6/d4/e6/g6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb3# — knight c5→b3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nb3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4n1p1/1p2p1p1/pqn2rPp/3p3P/P2r1BP1/NPP3Q1/KR3R2 w - - 0 37

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