Day 20: Hanging piece

Target Rating 630

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.

Types of the dayHanging piece Uncastled king Winning blow

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (a6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·109)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Discovered attack: bishop to f7Shuffle Rating 792 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Skewer: rook to d2Shuffle Rating 776 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g1 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (d6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to b8Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Winning blow: pawn to c3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (h8·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e7 (a3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (c3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·15)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (g7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (h8)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Skewer: rook to b2Shuffle Rating 794 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 1: rook to f8 (f5)Shuffle Rating 835 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Mate in 1: bishop to g5Shuffle Rating 885 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (g3·6)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Winning blow: queen to g4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!