Day 666: Development punish
Target rating: 1456
Lesson of the day
Punishing lazy development: half of your opponent's army is asleep on its starting squares, which means you outnumber him where the fight is. Count not the pieces on the board but the pieces in play — if five or more of his pieces have never moved, look for a forcing attack. The sign is a development lead plus open lines toward his king. Strike immediately: give him two quiet moves and the advantage evaporates.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: rook to h5 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: rook to b6 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to b7 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d7 (b6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (c2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c2 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a6 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to b2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: knight to f7 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (a3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to f3 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to d7 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to a7 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 667 →