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Day 305: 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 a3 (b2·29)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h4 (g3·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·26)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d3 (e2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (h2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c4 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to a4Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·94)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to h1 (d1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to d5 (b4·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a5·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f7 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to b5 (a6·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to b8 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5·6)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (g2·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·24)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (a1·10)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to f4 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to f7 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to d3 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d7·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (b6·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (a1·11)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to c8 (a8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to g3 (h3·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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