Day 621: King in the center
Target rating: 1400
Lesson of the day
King in the center: in Chess960 the monarch may start on the d- or e-file, right in the line of fire, and the attack can reach him before he ever castles. The signs: the enemy king still sits on its central starting square while the files toward it are opening. Play to rip the center open — a pawn sacrifice usually pays off here. And if it is your king in the middle, castle at the very first opportunity.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to c7 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d5 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f7 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c7 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f8 (g7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (h5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (f4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (b3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a5 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: bishop to a7 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (g1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: bishop to g7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 622 →