Day 330: First-rank tactic
Target rating: 1030
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. Winning blow: knight to g6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to d8 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to h8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (g5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e6 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to b6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c3 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h8 (h7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (c5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h7 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to b6 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to d1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (b1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g4 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (f3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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