Day 141: Uncastled king
Target rating: 792
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: pawn to c4 (d3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c3 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (h3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·52)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f8 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d8 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to b7 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to d4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 142 →