Chess Puzzle #7L3aX — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen g3; rooks a1/g1; bishops e3/f3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f5/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop g5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop f3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe3+ — rook e8→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bxh4 — bishop g5→h4, captures pawn. Opponent replies O-O-O (king e1→c1).
4. Best move: Bxg3 — bishop h4→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/pp3pp1/2n4p/2pp1Pb1/7P/2N1BBQ1/PPP2P2/R3K1R1 w Q - 0 17

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