Day 518: Hanging piece
Target rating: 1117
Lesson of the day
A hanging piece is simply an unprotected piece you can take for free. It sounds primitive, yet most amateur games are decided exactly this way. Build the habit: before every move, sweep the board and note every undefended piece, yours and theirs. The classic mistake is hunting for a brilliant combination when all you need to do is bend down and pick up the gift.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to c3 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to b8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c7 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to e3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to h4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to h5 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to c2 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b3 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to b1 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to e8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d4 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b5 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 519 →