Day 626: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1408
Lesson of the day
Removing the defender is the straightforward plan: capture the guard first, then take what it guarded. Unlike deflection, the defender is not lured away — it is traded off or destroyed on the spot. Stare at the target you crave and ask who defends it, and whether that defender can be profitably eaten. Count the whole capture sequence, not just the first move — the trade must pay off at the end.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to f8 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to g7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to c8 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e5 (f4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·59)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: rook to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: bishop to f2 (c5·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to g3 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (h5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to b8 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·33)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (d8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (b5·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 627 →