Day 532: Development punish
Target rating: 1139
Lesson of the day
Punishing lazy development: half of your opponent's army is asleep on its starting squares, which means you outnumber him where the fight is. Count not the pieces on the board but the pieces in play — if five or more of his pieces have never moved, look for a forcing attack. The sign is a development lead plus open lines toward his king. Strike immediately: give him two quiet moves and the advantage evaporates.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: king to a1 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f1 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to e1 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to e2 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to b1 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f8 (e6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (c5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to e5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: bishop to h6 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to b6 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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