Day 17: Hanging piece
Target rating: 625
Lesson of the day
A hanging piece is simply an unprotected piece you can take for free. It sounds primitive, yet most amateur games are decided exactly this way. Build the habit: before every move, sweep the board and note every undefended piece, yours and theirs. The classic mistake is hunting for a brilliant combination when all you need to do is bend down and pick up the gift.
Warm-up
1. Back-rank mate in 2 on c1 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: knight to f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Skewer: rook to h1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g3·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: rook to c1 (c8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: rook to d1 (d2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: queen to f1 (h3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: knight to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to a1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c2·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: queen to d8 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 1: queen to d8 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 18 →