Day 340: King in the center
Target rating: 1046
Lesson of the day
King in the center: in Chess960 the monarch may start on the d- or e-file, right in the line of fire, and the attack can reach him before he ever castles. The signs: the enemy king still sits on its central starting square while the files toward it are opening. Play to rip the center open — a pawn sacrifice usually pays off here. And if it is your king in the middle, castle at the very first opportunity.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to h3 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to a7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to a5 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to f3 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h4 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (a4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to a2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to a6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: knight to d7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to f8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 341 →