Chess Puzzle #7s7ji — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks c1/h1; bishop e3; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop d6; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxc1+ (queen c7→c1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Bxc1 — bishop e3→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move cxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1pqn1ppp/p2bp3/3p4/2PN2P1/3QB2P/PP3P2/2R1K2R b Kkq - 0 18

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