Chess Puzzle #4e9Cm — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1166 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short, smothered mate.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/h6; knights c3/g1; pawns b2/c2/c5/f3/g4/h5. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knights b4/f6; pawns a6/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a5→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Nb1 (knight c3→b1).
  3. Best move: Na2# — knight b4→a2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short, smothered mate. The combination ends with Na2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/4ppbp/p2p1npB/q1P4P/1n4P1/2N2P2/1PPQ4/2KR1BNR w - - 1 15

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