Day 238: Uncastled king
Target rating: 765
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. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·76)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·69)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (f3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·54)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h4 (f3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to d3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to d5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a1 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 239 →