Day 306: First-rank tactic
Target rating: 992
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: bishop to f6 (a1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a3 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·94)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a7 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to f7 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to d1 (c1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·111)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to h5 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a7 (b5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 307 →