Day 391: Development punish
Target rating: 1112
Lesson of the day
Punishing lazy development: half of your opponent's army is asleep on its starting squares, which means you outnumber him where the fight is. Count not the pieces on the board but the pieces in play — if five or more of his pieces have never moved, look for a forcing attack. The sign is a development lead plus open lines toward his king. Strike immediately: give him two quiet moves and the advantage evaporates.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to g2 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to e1 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to a4 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to b6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to h8 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to b3 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to d3 (f4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Pin: knight to c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to b7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to h5 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: bishop to c4 (e6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e5 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (b1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (g1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c4 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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