Day 29: Hanging piece

Target Rating 644

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 e4 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (e2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Fork: rook to b3Shuffle Rating 803 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Mate in 2: queen to c1 (c8)Shuffle Rating 823 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·9)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Fork: knight to f2Shuffle Rating 807 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

8. Mate in 2: rook to b1Shuffle Rating 826 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (h5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (h3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (b2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Winning blow: pawn to c4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Fork: knight to e2 (c1)Shuffle Rating 809 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

17. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 826 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (h2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (g5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Fork: knight to g3Shuffle Rating 809 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

22. Mate in 2: queen to b1Shuffle Rating 826 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

23. Winning blow: rook to e5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (a1·5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Skewer: rook to a7Shuffle Rating 836 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: pawn to h3 (h2)Shuffle Rating 970 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to g7 (b7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!