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Day 552: 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: pawn to c3 (b2·16)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (h2·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c6 (d5·37)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to h4 (f4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to h3 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (d3·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e5 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to f1 (e1·15)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: bishop to b4 (a5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·14)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e3·9)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to c4 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to f2 (e1·18)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 1393Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (a1·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (e8·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·14)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (b3·7)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to b8 (b7·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on c1 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Discovered attack: knight to f6 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1365Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e6·4)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (e2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·22)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c5 (g1·12)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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