Day 589: First-rank tactic
Target rating: 1364
Lesson of the day
The first-rank tactic: enemy pieces that never left their starting rank become targets themselves. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they block each other and are often defended by nobody. Look for a strike along the first or eighth rank — a rook or queen that breaks through harvests the undeveloped pieces. The mistake is treating the back rank as a safe "rear area": in Chess960 it can be the most vulnerable place on the board.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (h1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (a5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d2 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (a1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: bishop to f7 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to b4 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to h6 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to g5 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (c4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (a3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d2 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to a4 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: pin on g5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 590 →