Day 160: Long-range opener
Target rating: 806
Lesson of the day
The long-range opener: a bishop, rook or queen strikes across the whole board straight from its starting area. In Chess960 the long-range pieces sit on unfamiliar squares, and a single pawn move can uncover a shot deep into the enemy camp. In the opening, trace with your eyes the diagonals and files of every long-range piece — yours and theirs. The mistake is pushing a pawn without checking whose line you have just opened.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·44)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f3 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to f8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: queen to g3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (e6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to f1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 161 →