Day 170: Uncastled king
Target rating: 822
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 (e4·42)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (g4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·48)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to e1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: bishop to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: rook to h3 (f3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to e1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 171 →