Day 702: Long-range opener
Target rating: 1498
Lesson of the day
The long-range opener: a bishop, rook or queen strikes across the whole board straight from its starting area. In Chess960 the long-range pieces sit on unfamiliar squares, and a single pawn move can uncover a shot deep into the enemy camp. In the opening, trace with your eyes the diagonals and files of every long-range piece — yours and theirs. The mistake is pushing a pawn without checking whose line you have just opened.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to a8 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g7 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to b3 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c4 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c6 (d4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (g2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (b1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to c4 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to g7 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to h5 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to f7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 703 →