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The 1000-day course

Day 241: Discovered attack

Target rating: 920

Lesson of the day

A discovered attack works like a curtain: one piece steps off the line and unveils the long-range piece behind it. The beauty is that the moving piece can create a second threat of its own — two attacks in one move. Look for your stacked pairs: a bishop or rook behind a knight or pawn, aimed through them at something valuable. Send the front piece to the most aggressive square — a discovery without a second threat wastes half its power.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·8)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·10)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c8 (h3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f3 (g2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·14)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h2 (g2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·8)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e6 (e1)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·11)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (e1·7)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (c6·4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5·8)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
15. Discovered attack: bishop to h7 (d3·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g7·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to e1 (f1·3)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to c7 (a7)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (b8)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c7)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a7 (b5·6)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·34)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·12)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·5)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·5)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·10)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·31)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c7·4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: king to d2 (e1·12)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 242 →