Chess Puzzle #0olau — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e3; rook h1; bishop e2; knight g5; pawns a4/b2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king f6; queen d6; rooks b8/h8; knight c5; pawns a5/b6/c6/d5/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rbe8 — rook b8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nh7+ — knight g5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook h8→h7, captures knight).
3. Best move: g5+ — pawn g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king f6→f5).
4. Best move: Bg4# — bishop e2→g4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Bg4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5r/5pp1/1ppq1kp1/p1np2N1/P5P1/4Q2P/1P2BP2/5K1R b - - 1 26

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