Day 648: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1432
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (c5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (d3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: queen to b5 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to g5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: rook to c1 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to c3 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to c8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f8 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 649 →