Chess Puzzle #1SSsR — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 632 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; rook d1; bishop a3; knight b5; pawns e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook a8; knights b3/g6; pawns b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook a8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight g6→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook d8→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2Q2k1/5ppp/1p2p1n1/1N6/8/Bn2P2P/q4PP1/3R2K1 b - - 1 26

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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