Day 529: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1284
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: king to a1 (b1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to e2 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d2 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to c7 (f7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c4 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (h6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Rescue the rook to c8Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b6 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Skewer: rook to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to g7 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 530 →