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The 1000-day course

Day 787: Discovered attack

Target rating: 1686

Lesson of the day

A discovered attack works like a curtain: one piece steps off the line and unveils the long-range piece behind it. The beauty is that the moving piece can create a second threat of its own — two attacks in one move. Look for your stacked pairs: a bishop or rook behind a knight or pawn, aimed through them at something valuable. Send the front piece to the most aggressive square — a discovery without a second threat wastes half its power.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: king to b2 (c3·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to g2 (f2·8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to a1 (b1·26)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Rescue the king to b6Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·23)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to g7 (f7·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d5 (b3·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to e3 (g3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to g7 (a7·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to b3 (b1·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to a6 (c7·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (e4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Discovered attack: knight to a3Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Discovered attack: queen to g8Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: rook to c1Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to a7 (a8·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (f5·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: knight to c7 (d5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c4·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e4 (d4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (e3·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (a6·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to d5 (b5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (b4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Pin: pawn to g5Analysis
h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5·23)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h7·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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