Day 272: First-rank tactic
Target rating: 953
Lesson of the day
The first-rank tactic: enemy pieces that never left their starting rank become targets themselves. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they block each other and are often defended by nobody. Look for a strike along the first or eighth rank — a rook or queen that breaks through harvests the undeveloped pieces. The mistake is treating the back rank as a safe "rear area": in Chess960 it can be the most vulnerable place on the board.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h2 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (e1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b4 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a7 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e1 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a3 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h2 (h1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (f2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e7 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Discovered attack: bishop to h2 (d6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to b4 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 273 →