Day 139: Remove the defender
Target rating: 788
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: knight to e4 (c3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·49)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (c2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e2 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·50)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·102)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 140 →