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Day 267: Long-range opener

Lesson of the day

The long-range opener: a bishop, rook or queen strikes across the whole board straight from its starting area. In Chess960 the long-range pieces sit on unfamiliar squares, and a single pawn move can uncover a shot deep into the enemy camp. In the opening, trace with your eyes the diagonals and files of every long-range piece — yours and theirs. The mistake is pushing a pawn without checking whose line you have just opened.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h1 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·43)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (f1·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·17)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (a3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (f2·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h2 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·40)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b1·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·13)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·14)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b4 (b1·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d4 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: bishop to c6Shuffle Rating 1047Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f3 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1050Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e6·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (b8·2)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (f5·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (b1·9)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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