Chess Puzzle #0lBW3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; rooks b8/f1; knight d4; pawns a2/c2/e5/f5/h6. Black: king e7; rooks c3/h8; bishops d5/f8; pawns a7/d7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf5 — pawn g6→f5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf5+ — knight d4→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king e7→e6).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook b8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop f8→e7).
4. Best move: Rxe7# — rook e8→e7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1R3b1r/p2pkp1p/6pP/3bPP2/3N4/2r5/P1P5/4KR2 b - - 0 24

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