Day 115: Remove the defender
Target rating: 750
Lesson of the day
Removing the defender is the straightforward plan: capture the guard first, then take what it guarded. Unlike deflection, the defender is not lured away — it is traded off or destroyed on the spot. Stare at the target you crave and ask who defends it, and whether that defender can be profitably eaten. Count the whole capture sequence, not just the first move — the trade must pay off at the end.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f8 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·55)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h4 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h7 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a4 (b3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e8 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to f5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·40)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b2 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·79)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (b5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 116 →