Chess Puzzle #e3cwU — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e6; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights c3/f7; pawns a4/b2/g2/h2. Black: king c7; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; bishop b4; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/b7/c4/c6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe8 — queen e6→e8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxc3+ — bishop b4→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qf2+ — queen d4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
4. Best move: Nxc3# — knight e4→c3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, intermezzo, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Nxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn2r3/ppk2Npp/2p1Q3/8/Pbpqn3/2N5/1P4PP/R1B1KB1R w KQ - 3 14

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