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Day 222: 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: pawn to d5 (e4·63)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·39)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h7 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h1 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to c6 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to h2Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to h2 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·22)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to a7 (c7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·10)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (b5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to a3 (a2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to b3 (a4)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: bishop to d4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 960Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d4 (d2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e7)Shuffle Rating 995Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (f3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·14)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Skewer: rook to f3Shuffle Rating 960Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: knight to f8Shuffle Rating 964Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (e1·14)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to c5 (d3·11)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to b5 (b1·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to h8 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 989Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a8·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 223 →