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Day 621: King in the center

Lesson of the day

King in the center: in Chess960 the monarch may start on the d- or e-file, right in the line of fire, and the attack can reach him before he ever castles. The signs: the enemy king still sits on its central starting square while the files toward it are opening. Play to rip the center open — a pawn sacrifice usually pays off here. And if it is your king in the middle, castle at the very first opportunity.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: queen to c7 (a5·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d5 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·26)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (c2·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·10)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f7 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c7 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f8 (g7·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (h5·7)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (f4·6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (b3·18)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a4 (b3·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a5 (a6·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·19)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g1 (f1·7)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d1·4)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e6·4)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: bishop to a7 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d4 (g1·12)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·13)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: bishop to g7Shuffle Rating 1400Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: bishop to a6 (f1·8)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (h1·26)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·27)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g7 (c3·8)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 1: pin on g2Shuffle Rating 1537Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 622 →