Chess Puzzle #pUMLq — Advanced, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b4/f1; knights d2/g1; pawns a3/c4/c5/e2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/g8; pawns b7/d4/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb4 — knight c6→b4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxa1 (rook a8→a1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa1 — queen d1→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, short. The key move axb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bqkbnr/1p3ppp/2n5/2P1p3/1BPp4/P7/3NPPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 2 8

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