Day 199: Remove the defender
Target rating: 856
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 c3 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d4 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to d2 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g1 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to a6 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to g4 (f6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to e1 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e5 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: knight to e7 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 200 →