Day 305: Remove the defender
Target rating: 990
Lesson of the day
Removing the defender is the straightforward plan: capture the guard first, then take what it guarded. Unlike deflection, the defender is not lured away — it is traded off or destroyed on the spot. Stare at the target you crave and ask who defends it, and whether that defender can be profitably eaten. Count the whole capture sequence, not just the first move — the trade must pay off at the end.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h4 (g3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c4 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to a4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·94)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to h1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to d5 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to b5 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to b8 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (g2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to f4 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to f7 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to d3 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 306 →