Day 252: Uncastled king
Target rating: 771
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: pawn to d5 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·41)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h1 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f3 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·58)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·74)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a3 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to h8 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·41)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h2 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f5 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 253 →