Day 327: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1025
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. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to f1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: queen to f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Pin: rook to e1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (f5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g3 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f5 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 328 →