Chess Puzzle #JlwP6 — Expert, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights b8/e4; pawns a6/b7/d6/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc1 — queen d1→c1. Opponent replies Qxc1+ (queen b2→c1, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxc1 — rook a1→c1, captures queen. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight b8→d7).
4. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c1→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, long, opening. The key move is Qc1.

Position data

FEN: rnb1kb1r/1p2pppp/p2p4/8/4n3/2P1BN2/Pq1N1PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 1 10

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