Chess Puzzle #ILxCP — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/g2; knight e2; pawns a3/c3/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights c4/e4; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a7→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop g2→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen d3→c4, captures knight. Opponent replies Ba6 (bishop b7→a6).
4. Best move: Qa2 — queen c4→a2.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Bxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pbp2ppp/1p2p3/3p4/2nPn3/P1PQP1P1/4NPBP/R1B2RK1 b - - 3 13

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