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The 1000-day course

Day 262: Discovered attack

Target rating: 937

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: king to c2 (d1·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·25)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (g1·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (e3·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (e4·7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (f4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (b2·7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·26)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d4 (b3·12)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (f2·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to f2 (e1·7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to c1 (b2·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·10)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·9)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Deflection: knight to c7Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to f2 (d4)Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (d5·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b4Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: bishop to c5 (f2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Pin: knight to f3 (e5·2)Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: queen to d4 (d8)Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·16)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to d4 (f3·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to d5 (f3·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to f1 (g1·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: rook to h1Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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