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

Rating 497 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, opera mate.

Position

White: king c1; queen d8; rooks d1/h1; bishop f6; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b5; rooks a8/g8; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook a8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, opera mate. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2Qk1r1/pp3p2/4pB1p/1qb3p1/8/5N2/PPP2PPP/2KR3R b q - 4 16

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