Day 436: First-rank tactic
Target rating: 1168
Lesson of the day
The first-rank tactic: enemy pieces that never left their starting rank become targets themselves. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they block each other and are often defended by nobody. Look for a strike along the first or eighth rank — a rook or queen that breaks through harvests the undeveloped pieces. The mistake is treating the back rank as a safe "rear area": in Chess960 it can be the most vulnerable place on the board.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: king to d1 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b3 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to e1 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to b6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c2 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a6 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (d1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b1 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to g1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to f4 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d1 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f7 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to g6 (h5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 437 →