Day 404: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1116
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to h8 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c2 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to a7 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to h7 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to b1 (a2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e7 (d6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to g7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to g1 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 405 →