Open in the app

Day 345: Battery

Lesson of the day

A battery stacks two long-range pieces on one line — a queen behind a bishop on a diagonal, or doubled rooks on a file. The front piece strikes with double force: capture it, and the piece behind recaptures with even more pressure. The battery is ready when both pieces already stare at one point and only the front strike is missing. Build batteries in advance on lines leading to the king — the doubling itself often breeds the combination.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f2 (h3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·12)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·49)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h5 (g4·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to d3 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (d2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·26)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g8 (g1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·100)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (h7·9)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to b4 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to e5 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to h1 (a1)Shuffle Rating 1109Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f4 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1125Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to h5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1126Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to e1 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1130Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to a1 (a2·3)Shuffle Rating 1131Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: pawn to f6 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: knight to e2 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1070Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: knight to e7 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: queen to c5 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1072Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: king to f2 (e1·14)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to d5 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to h6 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 346 →