Chess Puzzle #2nfgR — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d2; knight b5; pawns a4/b2/d3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp2bppp/4pn2/1Nqp4/P7/3P1P2/1P1B2PP/R2Q1R1K b kq - 0 14

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