Day 478: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1219
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. Winning blow: rook to b3 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to c6 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to a4 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e3 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to b8 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (a4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to h6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e4 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to g5 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to b7 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (e4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to b7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: king to b1 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: pawn to h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Discovered attack: knight to h3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to b1 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to c2 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 479 →