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Day 529: 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: king to a1 (b1·15)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g2 (f1·8)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (g1·9)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: king to a2 (b1·8)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to e2 (d2·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d2 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (g1·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to c7 (f7·5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c4 (d4·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (h6·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Rescue the rook to c8Shuffle Rating 1296Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b6 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Skewer: rook to e7Shuffle Rating 1297Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to g7 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·6)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·15)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d3·7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to b5 (f1·5)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·19)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (a6)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: knight to e2 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 530 →