Day 791: Uncastled king
Target rating: 1546
Lesson of the day
Punishing the uncastled king: your opponent delayed castling, and now his king is stuck on its starting square under fire. In Chess960 this is deadlier than in classical chess — the king may start in the center or near the edge, and the familiar defensive setups simply do not apply. The signs: the victim still holds castling rights, and the files toward his king are half-open. Open lines before the king manages to hide.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to a1 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (f2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to a8 (c7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to g1 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c8 (d7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e7 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (f2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e6 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: rook to e1 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: rook to f1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to c8 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 792 →