Chess Puzzle #D2KEP — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen f7; bishop a7; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/h2. Black: king d8; queen a1; rooks c8/h8; bishops f8/h3; knight f6; pawns b7/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 11 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen a1→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bb6+ — bishop a7→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Rc7 (rook c8→c7).
3. Best move: Bxc7+ — bishop b6→c7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
4. Best move: Na7# — knight b5→a7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Na7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rk1b1r/Bp3Qpp/5n2/1N2p3/8/3P3b/PPPK1P1P/q7 b - - 0 16

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