Chess Puzzle #G5hkI — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen b4; rooks e3/f1; bishop g4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/g3. Black: king b8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; bishop e5; knight b6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop e5→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen b4→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight b6→d5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e3→e7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight d5→c3, captures queen).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1r2/1pp1qp2/pn1p3p/3Pb1p1/1Q4B1/2N1R1P1/PPP5/2K2R2 b - - 3 23

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