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Day 348: 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: pawn to d5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·51)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (d7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (d2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g5 (f3·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (d6·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d2 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (f2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f5 (f1·9)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·9)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (d3·4)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to h5Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (c1)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c8 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to f7 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: pawn to d8Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: knight to e5 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1085Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to c3 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: queen to e2 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 1: rook to e1 (e8·4)Shuffle Rating 1195Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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