Day 26: Hanging piece

Target Rating 640

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. Mate in 2: rook to h7Shuffle Rating 756 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a1·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Mate in 1: queen to f1 (c4)Shuffle Rating 828 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

5. Mate in 2: rook to d5Shuffle Rating 774 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (f8)Shuffle Rating 775 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (h6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Winning blow: queen to g6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Mate in 2: rook to h1Shuffle Rating 776 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (e1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (a1·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Winning blow: bishop to d6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Mate in 2: rook to e1 (e7)Shuffle Rating 784 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a7 (d4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: bishop to f7 (c4)Shuffle Rating 846 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Winning blow: knight to f5 (e7)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (a6)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a2Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!