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Day 604: 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: rook to f5 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·8)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·14)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (e5·18)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to a8 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to g7 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e5 (c7·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·10)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e7 (h7·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1·10)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·23)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Skewer: bishop to c1Shuffle Rating 1452Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e1 (b1)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·17)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·4)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (h3·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to f2 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to f8 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·19)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·34)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (b4·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d7·6)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (b6·5)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 605 →