Open in the app

Day 404: 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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·13)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to h8 (f7·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (f4·13)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a7·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c8 (d7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (c5·14)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c2 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d1·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to a7 (b7·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to h7 (g7·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to b1 (a2·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e7 (d6·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to e6 (f4·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·12)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e5 (f3·17)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to g7 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b1·17)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b5·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to g1 (f1·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (a4·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to e7 (g7·4)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·16)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to c6 (h1·3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 405 →