Chess Puzzle #8MEa6 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen g3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c3; pawns a3/b2/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks c8/e8; bishop c2; pawns a5/b6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: O-O — king e1→g1. Opponent replies Rcxe3 (rook c3→e3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

castling, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is O-O.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/5p1p/1p4p1/p7/3q4/P1B1P1QP/1Pb2PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 1 23

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