Day 715: Development punish
Target rating: 1531
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. Winning blow: rook to h5 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to f1 (f2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c2 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to d1 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to e1 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to e2 (e1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d7 (b5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e7 (f8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (e4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e4 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: pawn to g6 (g7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: pin on e1 (e8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to b1 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to h4 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e1 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (g1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (f5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 716 →