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

Position

White: king b1; queen d4; rooks e4/e7; bishop c4; pawns a2/b3/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook c8; bishop d5; knight b4; pawns a3/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen d4→e5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxe4+ — bishop d5→e4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f3→e4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen f5→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook e7→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rd8 — rook c8→d8.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move Bxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/4Rp2/6p1/3b1q1p/1nBQR2P/pP3P2/P5P1/1K6 w - - 11 35

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