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Day 178: 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 h3 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (h1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b2 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·18)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d5 (a5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to e3 (d2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (f1·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·10)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c3 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to d8 (d7·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (b2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to b8 (b7)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f1 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to d8 (d7·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (c8)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to a8Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (g2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g8Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1163Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to g7 (g3·5)Shuffle Rating 989Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: fork on g6Shuffle Rating 1024Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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