Day 421: Development punish
Target rating: 1144
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: king to g2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b3 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to h3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to h3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to a4 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to h3 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: pawn to d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: bishop to d7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d1 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to g4 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h8 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 422 →