Chess Puzzle #4bZma — Advanced, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/c8; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: O-O — king e1→g1. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d6→e5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxc3 (bishop b4→c3, captures knight).
4. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

castling, equality, long, opening. The key move is O-O.

Position data

FEN: rnb1k2r/pp2q1pp/2pp1n2/1B2Pp2/1b1P4/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq - 0 9

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