Day 178: Remove the defender
Target rating: 835
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: knight to h3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d5 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c3 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to d8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f1 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to d8 (d7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 179 →