Day 597: Decoy
Target rating: 1368
Lesson of the day
A decoy is the mirror image of deflection: you sacrifice to drag the king or a piece onto a fatal square. The classic is a queen or rook sac whose capture pulls the king into a knight fork, a discovered check or mate. Find the square where the target will be hit, then find the offer it cannot refuse. Calculate to the very end — a decoy only works when the follow-up is forced.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to g5 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to f6 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: knight to f5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: bishop to b7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to a5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 598 →