Day 869: Discovered attack
Target rating: 1841
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. Mate in 3: queen to e1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: king to f1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to e3 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: bishop to e3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: knight to f3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to d5 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to e1 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (h2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Rescue the pawn to d5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Deflection: rook to d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Discovered attack: bishop to d3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: knight to e2 (d4·9)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: bishop to e5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to e5 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to c5 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: rook to f6 (e6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: king to d2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to e7 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: pawn to c7 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 870 →