Day 297: Long-range opener
Target rating: 984
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: pawn to f3 (e2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to h1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·92)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h2 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b3 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (e2·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (a1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (a4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (a1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f1 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to a4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to d3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to g7 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: queen to h8 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e7 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to a1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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