Day 32: Hanging piece

Target Rating 649

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: knight to c6 (b4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Fork: rook to c3Shuffle Rating 822 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

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

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Winning blow: queen to e8 (b5)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Fork: knight to e7 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 823 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Winning blow: bishop to e3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (e6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Fork: bishop to e4Shuffle Rating 823 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Winning blow: queen to c3Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Fork: knight to e7 (d5)Shuffle Rating 827 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c7 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Fork: knight to d3 (e5)Shuffle Rating 828 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Skewer: queen to h8Shuffle Rating 842 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f5·7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!