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The 1000-day course

Day 251: Discovered check

Target rating: 920

Lesson of the day

With a discovered check the moving piece unmasks a check from the piece standing behind it. While the king deals with the check, the piece that moved grabs whatever it likes, free of charge. Look for your long-range piece on a line with the enemy king, with exactly one of your own pieces in between. The rule: among all the ways to step aside, pick the one that captures or attacks the most expensive loot.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f1 (e2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·15)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (d1·7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·12)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a2 (a1·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·40)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to h5 (b5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (f2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b7·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to a5 (c6·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (b7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to h7 (b1·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·11)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to b3 (c3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·13)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to b8 (d7·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e7·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to h3 (f4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e4 (f6·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·7)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: knight to e4 (g3·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to f2 (f1·6)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to d3 (a3·2)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to g4Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·4)Analysis
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White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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