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Day 118: Remove the defender

Lesson of the day

Removing the defender is the straightforward plan: capture the guard first, then take what it guarded. Unlike deflection, the defender is not lured away — it is traded off or destroyed on the spot. Stare at the target you crave and ask who defends it, and whether that defender can be profitably eaten. Count the whole capture sequence, not just the first move — the trade must pay off at the end.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d5 (c3·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·25)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·61)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·75)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·26)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·21)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (a8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (f4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: king to b3Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to c3Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (c1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·42)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·18)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (a3·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b4 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h5 (g4·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (f2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·76)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c8 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: rook to h2Shuffle Rating 944Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (e1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (e4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 119 →