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Day 17: 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. Back-rank mate in 2 on c1 (c6)Shuffle Rating 723Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 1: knight to f2Shuffle Rating 643Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Skewer: rook to h1Shuffle Rating 740Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·6)Shuffle Rating 729Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 735Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: rook to c1 (c8)Shuffle Rating 725Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c7)Shuffle Rating 733Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: rook to d1 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 733Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: queen to f1 (h3)Shuffle Rating 735Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: knight to g6Shuffle Rating 724Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to a1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 724Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to c1 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 735Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (c6·5)Shuffle Rating 725Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: queen to d8 (g5)Shuffle Rating 733Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (e5)Shuffle Rating 726Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 1: queen to d8 (d5)Shuffle Rating 738Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·7)Shuffle Rating 727Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (c2·4)Shuffle Rating 730Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (g7)Shuffle Rating 730Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 1: queen to h7 (d3·8)Shuffle Rating 732Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: rook to c8Shuffle Rating 904Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (g1·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: bishop to f5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 1: rook to c1 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 726Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 18 →