Day 568: Clearance
Target rating: 1331
Lesson of the day
Clearance is about your own piece standing in the way of the decisive blow — so you move it aside, or even throw it away. The key is to clear with tempo: jump off with a check, a capture or a threat, giving the opponent no time to regroup. The telltale sign: you see a crushing queen or rook move, but one of your own pieces blocks the line or occupies the square. Do not cling to it — a clearance sacrifice usually costs less than a missed attack.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f5 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to a7 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to b7 (c5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: bishop to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to h4 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (f1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to h5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e7 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on h1 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 569 →