Chess Puzzle #SrDvX — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h1; bishop g3; knight b5; pawns b2/c2/d5/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; rooks a4/e8; bishops a6/c5; pawns a7/c7/d6/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc7 — knight b5→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a4→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
3. Best move: Bb4+ — bishop c5→b4, gives check. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c2→c3).
4. Best move: Re2# — rook e8→e2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Re2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p1p2p1p/b2p1p2/1NbP4/r5P1/6BP/1PP2P2/2KR3R w - - 0 21

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