Day 861: Uncastled king
Target rating: 1671
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. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (f7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to c4 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: knight to a5 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to f5 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: knight to e8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to e4 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: king to h1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h3 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (b7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 862 →