Day 392: Uncastled king
Target rating: 962
Lesson of the day
Punishing the uncastled king: your opponent delayed castling, and now his king is stuck on its starting square under fire. In Chess960 this is deadlier than in classical chess — the king may start in the center or near the edge, and the familiar defensive setups simply do not apply. The signs: the victim still holds castling rights, and the files toward his king are half-open. Open lines before the king manages to hide.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (d2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c3 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (b1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to g5 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to d5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to c8 (d6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (b5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e4 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 393 →