Day 372: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1081
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: queen to b6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to c1 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to d5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to g5 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to c8 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f8 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 373 →