Chess Puzzle #27SKV — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen a4; rook a1; bishop d3; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rook e8; bishops e2/f4; pawns b7/c6/f6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe2 — bishop d3→e2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe2+ — queen e7→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e2→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/1p2qp2/2p2p1p/2N5/Q2P1b2/3B4/PP2bPP1/R4K2 w - - 3 23

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