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The 1000-day course

Day 586: Discovered attack

Target rating: 1360

Lesson of the day

A discovered attack works like a curtain: one piece steps off the line and unveils the long-range piece behind it. The beauty is that the moving piece can create a second threat of its own — two attacks in one move. Look for your stacked pairs: a bishop or rook behind a knight or pawn, aimed through them at something valuable. Send the front piece to the most aggressive square — a discovery without a second threat wastes half its power.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: queen to f5 (d3·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·16)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2 (g3·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (e3·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to d6 (g3·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e1·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (c6·8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d7 (a4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (a1·24)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h6 (h5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to h3 (e3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·9)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (c4·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d7 (b6·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (c3·9)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (c4·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a3 (a5)Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to e7 (f8·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (d4·8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to f2 (f3)Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (f5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to b7 (e4·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (f5·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7 (f7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7·12)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·12)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: rook to a6 (c6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 587 →