Day 348: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1048
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: pawn to d5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·51)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f5 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to h5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to f7 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: pawn to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: knight to e5 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 349 →