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The 1000-day course

Day 888: Hanging piece

Target rating: 1888

Lesson of the day

A hanging piece is simply an unprotected piece you can take for free. It sounds primitive, yet most amateur games are decided exactly this way. Build the habit: before every move, sweep the board and note every undefended piece, yours and theirs. The classic mistake is hunting for a brilliant combination when all you need to do is bend down and pick up the gift.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: queen to d5 (g2·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a1·9)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to h4 (g2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c7 (b8·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c5 (h5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to f7 (e5·15)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e4 (a8)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (a6·9)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e6 (c8·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·29)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to h4 (h3·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (g1·11)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to c1 (d1·18)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e5 (a1·11)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c6·6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (f3·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to f3 (d3·3)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (b1·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to c7 (b5·10)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (g5·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to f8 (e8·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b6)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c5·7)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (f4·2)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to d6 (e4·20)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (d1·5)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Pin: knight to e6Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: knight to d4 (e2·4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to h4 (g5·2)Analysis
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Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (b4)Analysis
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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