Day 747: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1596
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 b5 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (a5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Fork: knight to d4 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (d8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Discovered attack: bishop to h7 (d3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to f4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to g1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to d1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: pawn to b6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: king to h2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 748 →