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Day 391: Development punish

Lesson of the day

Punishing lazy development: half of your opponent's army is asleep on its starting squares, which means you outnumber him where the fight is. Count not the pieces on the board but the pieces in play — if five or more of his pieces have never moved, look for a forcing attack. The sign is a development lead plus open lines toward his king. Strike immediately: give him two quiet moves and the advantage evaporates.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: queen to g2 (h1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to e1 (h4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g7·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to a4 (c4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to b6 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (g1·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to h8 (b2·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to a3 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to b3 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: knight to d3 (f4)Shuffle Rating 1191Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Pin: knight to c5Shuffle Rating 1191Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to b7Shuffle Rating 1192Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to h5 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1193Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: bishop to c4 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1194Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e5 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to g3 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (b1·3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g2 (g1·12)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to c4 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·21)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·14)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f8·6)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Back-rank mate in 3 on f7 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1249Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·14)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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