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The 1000-day course

Day 491: Discovered check

Target rating: 1240

Lesson of the day

With a discovered check the moving piece unmasks a check from the piece standing behind it. While the king deals with the check, the piece that moved grabs whatever it likes, free of charge. Look for your long-range piece on a line with the enemy king, with exactly one of your own pieces in between. The rule: among all the ways to step aside, pick the one that captures or attacks the most expensive loot.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e1·8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to b6 (c4·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c8 (h8·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d7 (c6·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to d2 (e1·13)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e5·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to a6 (c5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h6 (h3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (b4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d4·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e2·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (h6·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·18)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b6 (d5·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f1·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (b2·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: bishop to e7 (f8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (c3·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (f4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g4·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to b5Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Deflection: queen to d6Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (c8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (b4·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (e2·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 492 →