Chess Puzzle #vzpSq — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops d3/e3; knight f3; pawns a2/b4/c5/d4/f2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks a8/e8; bishop c7; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f3→e5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop c7→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d4→e5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Re6 — rook e8→e6. Opponent replies Bxf5 (bishop d3→f5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qxf5 — queen h3→f5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Bxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3rnk1/ppb2ppp/2p5/2P2p2/1P1P4/3BBN1q/P4P2/R2QR1K1 w - - 1 17

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