Morphy's Mate: chess tactic

Bishop on the long diagonal with a rook locking the file

A bishop delivers mate along a long diagonal to a king in the corner, with a rook (or another piece) covering the adjacent flight squares. Named after Paul Morphy's famous Opera Game and similar games, the pattern repeats: bishop on the h1-a8 (or a1-h8) diagonal, king on the corner square, rook plugging the file. Trade or sacrifice to clear the diagonal, then the bishop drops in.

• Bishop attacks the king along the long diagonal to the corner.
• A rook (or another piece) covers the adjacent flight squares.
• The king is often boxed in by its own pawns on the second rank.
• Sacrifices that clear the diagonal are the typical setup.