Chess Puzzle #51Ko6 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1023 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king a1; queen a3; rooks c1/d6; bishop g3; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b1; rook a8; bishop b7; knights b4/d2; pawns a5/b5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb1 — rook c1→b1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc2# — knight b4→c2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/1b4pk/3R3p/pp2N3/1n6/Q5B1/PP1n2PP/KqR5 w - - 19 30

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