Day 296: Development punish
Target rating: 984
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 e4 (f3·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·44)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b5 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e4 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·45)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to h5 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to b3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·94)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (e2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to d3 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to b8 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (c5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (h5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to d5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 297 →