Day 222: Remove the defender
Target rating: 889
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: pawn to d5 (e4·63)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·39)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h7 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h1 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to c6 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to h2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to h2 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to a7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to a3 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to b3 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: bishop to d4 (f6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Skewer: rook to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: knight to f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 223 →