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Day 2: 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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Skewer: rook to a3Shuffle Rating 652Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 1: pawn to c5Shuffle Rating 658Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 1: queen to f7Shuffle Rating 602Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Back-rank mate in 2 on e1Shuffle Rating 604Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: rook to a1Shuffle Rating 607Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 1: rook to e1Shuffle Rating 607Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 1: queen to c8Shuffle Rating 611Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 1: queen to a8 (f3)Shuffle Rating 687Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to b7Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (a5·6)Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 1: queen to g5Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 1: queen to f8Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: knight to d5Shuffle Rating 631Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Skewer: rook to b1Shuffle Rating 655Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to g7Shuffle Rating 602Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Back-rank mate in 3 on g1Shuffle Rating 606Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to d8Shuffle Rating 609Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h7Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 1: bishop to a3Shuffle Rating 719Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Fork: rook to e8Shuffle Rating 758Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6Shuffle Rating 620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 3 →