Day 789: Remove the defender
Target rating: 1691
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 h8 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to h6 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to b7 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: king to c2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Pin: rook to e3 (e8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f6 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Pin: rook to f2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (a7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (f5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to h1 (a8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 790 →