Day 270: Development punish
Target rating: 950
Lesson of the day
Punishing lazy development: half of your opponent's army is asleep on its starting squares, which means you outnumber him where the fight is. Count not the pieces on the board but the pieces in play — if five or more of his pieces have never moved, look for a forcing attack. The sign is a development lead plus open lines toward his king. Strike immediately: give him two quiet moves and the advantage evaporates.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·42)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·62)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to h1 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (g4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (f2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to e1 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to f2 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to f4 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to d6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to b1 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to d7 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 271 →