Day 757: Clearance
Target rating: 1611
Lesson of the day
Clearance is about your own piece standing in the way of the decisive blow — so you move it aside, or even throw it away. The key is to clear with tempo: jump off with a check, a capture or a threat, giving the opponent no time to regroup. The telltale sign: you see a crushing queen or rook move, but one of your own pieces blocks the line or occupies the square. Do not cling to it — a clearance sacrifice usually costs less than a missed attack.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to g8 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h6 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to f5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: pawn to g7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (d7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: pawn to g4 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: bishop to f5 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to a7 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f7 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to b6 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: king to b2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (c8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: knight to c7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 758 →