Day 116: Uncastled king
Target rating: 752
Lesson of the day
Punishing the uncastled king: your opponent delayed castling, and now his king is stuck on its starting square under fire. In Chess960 this is deadlier than in classical chess — the king may start in the center or near the edge, and the familiar defensive setups simply do not apply. The signs: the victim still holds castling rights, and the files toward his king are half-open. Open lines before the king manages to hide.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to g1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (h7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·41)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to d4 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·71)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (e2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 117 →