Day 155: Remove the defender
Target rating: 798
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: pawn to e5 (d4·39)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·40)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to b2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to d4 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: rook to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (h3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to h2 (f4·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to h3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 156 →