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Day 11: Hanging piece

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. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·3)Shuffle Rating 679Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a7 (b5)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 1: rook to h4Shuffle Rating 674Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·5)Shuffle Rating 679Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·5)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: queen to d1Shuffle Rating 638Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 1: rook to f6Shuffle Rating 674Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (f4)Shuffle Rating 680Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·10)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Back-rank mate in 1 on d1Shuffle Rating 639Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to g2Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h2Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 686Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·6)Shuffle Rating 689Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f7 (e5·5)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Back-rank mate in 2 on c8Shuffle Rating 640Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 1: rook to h1 (a1)Shuffle Rating 686Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 1: queen to f8 (f3)Shuffle Rating 690Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to f2Shuffle Rating 643Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 1: rook to e8 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 687Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to f7 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 691Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to h3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·18)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to a8Shuffle Rating 641Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 12 →