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Day 372: 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: queen to b6 (b5)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e6)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to c1 (b1·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (d3·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to d5Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·12)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h5 (h1·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to g5 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (h3·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (h1·10)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to c8 (g8·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f8 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·15)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (d7·2)Shuffle Rating 1410Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·13)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: bishop to h2 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1148Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 373 →