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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a3/c6/d5/e4/f2/h4. Black: king h8; rooks a8/g8; bishops d6/g4; pawns a7/c5/e5/f6/h6/h7. White is ahead by 9 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bf3+ — bishop g4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
3. Best move: Bxe5+ — bishop d6→e5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h2→h3).
4. Best move: Bg2# — bishop f3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

collinear, discovered attack, fork, intermezzo, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Bg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/p6p/2Pb1p1p/2pPp3/4P1bP/P4N2/4BP2/R2Q1RK1 w - - 2 23

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