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Day 421: 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: king to g2 (f1·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b3 (c5·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·37)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c4 (g4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·12)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to h3 (g3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to h3Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5·9)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to h5 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to a4 (b5·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to h3 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (d1·5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·23)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·21)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: pawn to d8 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: bishop to d7 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d1 (e1·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to g4 (d1·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·19)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h8 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Castling-960 to the rescue on f1 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Castling-960 to the rescue on h8 (g8)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 1: rook to d2 (h2)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (b8)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·15)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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