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Day 327: 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. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (a8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (f3·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d8 (h8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c5·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to f1 (e1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: queen to f2Shuffle Rating 1078Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Pin: rook to e1Shuffle Rating 1134Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·11)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (b1·15)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·17)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (c1·14)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (e2·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·22)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (f5·13)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f4 (e3·8)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g3 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f5 (b1·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to h8 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to d3 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b1·19)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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