Chess Puzzle #mzBvq — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e2/f4; knight a4; pawns a2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa3 — queen b2→a3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight f6→e4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Bc1 — bishop f4→c1. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight e4→c3, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Bxa3 — bishop c1→a3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, quiet move, trapped piece. The key move is c3.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/p3bppp/2pp1n2/8/N3PB2/8/PqP1B1PP/R2Q1R1K b - - 1 15

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