Day 150: 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 d5 (e4·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f4 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h5 (g4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 151 →