Chess Puzzle #4J8By — Beginner, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knights d2/g1; pawns a2/c3/e2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/d7/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen c3→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc1 — queen d1→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rnb1kbnr/pp1ppppp/8/8/8/2P1B3/Pq1NPPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 1 6

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