Day 267: Long-range opener
Target rating: 945
Lesson of the day
The long-range opener: a bishop, rook or queen strikes across the whole board straight from its starting area. In Chess960 the long-range pieces sit on unfamiliar squares, and a single pawn move can uncover a shot deep into the enemy camp. In the opening, trace with your eyes the diagonals and files of every long-range piece — yours and theirs. The mistake is pushing a pawn without checking whose line you have just opened.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h1 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·43)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·40)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d4 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: bishop to c6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f3 (d4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 268 →