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

Position

White: king g1; rooks b1/e1; bishops a3/d3; pawns a2/c2/c4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; rooks a8/g6; bishop c8; knight d2; pawns a7/c6/c7/d5/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb1 — knight d2→b1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook e8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
4. Best move: Bxf5# — bishop d3→f5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Bxf5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/p1p3pp/2p3r1/3p1p2/2PP4/B2B3P/P1Pn1PP1/1R2R1K1 b - - 4 19

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