Day 351: First-rank tactic
Target rating: 1048
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: queen to a7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to b7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·69)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3 (c2·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (c2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to f1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to a5 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (g1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c2 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to f2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to c5 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Fork: rook to c1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 352 →