Chess Puzzle #7JMCt — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knights e2/h2; pawns a5/c2/d3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king b8; queen f5; rooks d8/h8; bishop b4; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/e5/g4/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c5→c4).
3. Best move: cxb4 — pawn c3→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is c3.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/1p6/p1p2n2/P2ppq1p/1b4pP/3P2P1/2P1NP1N/R2Q1RK1 b - - 1 21

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