Chess Puzzle #R5Gbc — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks c1/f1; bishops b2/f3; knight c3; pawns a3/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/e8; bishops b4/e4; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop e4→f3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen a5→b4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move axb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/pp3ppp/5n2/q2p4/1b1Pb3/PPN2B2/1B1Q1PPP/2R2RK1 b - - 0 17

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