Chess Puzzle #4aSgf — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1000 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen b8; rooks c4/e1; knight a6; pawns a2/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king a8; queen b2; rooks d8/e8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b7/f5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb8 — rook d8→b8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc7# — knight a6→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: kQ1rr3/pp1b3p/N7/5p2/2R5/6P1/PqP2P1P/4R1K1 b - - 8 25

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