Day 323: Development punish
Target rating: 1019
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. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to f6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to e2 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to f2 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e8 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to e4 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g4 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (e2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to a8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to c1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to d1 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 324 →