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Day 577: Uncastled king

Lesson of the day

Punishing the uncastled king: your opponent delayed castling, and now his king is stuck on its starting square under fire. In Chess960 this is deadlier than in classical chess — the king may start in the center or near the edge, and the familiar defensive setups simply do not apply. The signs: the victim still holds castling rights, and the files toward his king are half-open. Open lines before the king manages to hide.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (f3·5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to g3 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (f4·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c7 (a5·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d7 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (e1·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·32)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (e5·2)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (c1·11)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h1·8)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (h5·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: queen to d1 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1317Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f7 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g6 (f4·8)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h7·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Castling-960 to the rescue on h8 (f8·6)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (h5·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·10)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Deflection: pawn to h4Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (d6·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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