Chess Puzzle #1ixO9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 778 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen g2; rooks f1/f7; bishop b4; pawns a3/d4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks e6/e8; knight e4; pawns a4/b5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5Rpp/4r3/1p6/pB1Pn1P1/P3q2P/6QK/5R2 b - - 0 35

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