Chess Puzzle #ft4sO — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; rooks a1/d2; bishops e2/e3; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop e6→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen b4→e7).
3. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop e2→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is a3.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pp2ppp/p1n1b3/8/1qP1P3/2N1BN1P/PP1RBKP1/R7 b - - 8 15

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