Day 552: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1305
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: pawn to c3 (b2·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to h4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to h3 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e5 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to f2 (e1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (b3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to b8 (b7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on c1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Discovered attack: knight to f6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 553 →