Day 385: Long-range opener
Target rating: 952
Lesson of the day
The long-range opener: a bishop, rook or queen strikes across the whole board straight from its starting area. In Chess960 the long-range pieces sit on unfamiliar squares, and a single pawn move can uncover a shot deep into the enemy camp. In the opening, trace with your eyes the diagonals and files of every long-range piece — yours and theirs. The mistake is pushing a pawn without checking whose line you have just opened.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c4 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a2 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to a3 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h4 (f3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to h7 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b2 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h6 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to c2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d2 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to c2 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to a8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 386 →