Day 176: Remove the defender
Target rating: 832
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. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to h1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (f3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to d3 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·31)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b6 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·36)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to c7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to c5 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to d5 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 177 →