Day 577: Uncastled king
Target rating: 1345
Lesson of the day
Punishing the uncastled king: your opponent delayed castling, and now his king is stuck on its starting square under fire. In Chess960 this is deadlier than in classical chess — the king may start in the center or near the edge, and the familiar defensive setups simply do not apply. The signs: the victim still holds castling rights, and the files toward his king are half-open. Open lines before the king manages to hide.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to g3 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (f4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c7 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d7 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (h5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to d1 (g4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on h8 (f8·6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 578 →