Day 574: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1190
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 b2 (c2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to e1 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to g1 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to c2 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to d2 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to e2 (d1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d1 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to b4 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (d3·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e8 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (g4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to c5 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: king to g1 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to g4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to h8 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 575 →