Day 505: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1246
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: bishop to f6 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·58)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (c5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·31)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b5 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d8 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g3 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to a7 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (b6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to f7 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: pawn to g4 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to e6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to f1 (f3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to a6 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: bishop to c6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 506 →