Chess Puzzle #2goIj — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight b1; pawns a2/b5/c3/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns b6/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook a8→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c4 — pawn c3→c4. Opponent replies Rxb2 (rook a2→b2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is c4.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1pp2pp1/1p3n1p/1P1q4/8/2PP4/PB3PPP/RN1Q1RK1 b - - 1 13

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