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Day 624: Hanging piece

Lesson of the day

A hanging piece is simply an unprotected piece you can take for free. It sounds primitive, yet most amateur games are decided exactly this way. Build the habit: before every move, sweep the board and note every undefended piece, yours and theirs. The classic mistake is hunting for a brilliant combination when all you need to do is bend down and pick up the gift.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·13)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to c5 (e4·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c6·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (d4·21)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (b1·10)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·18)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d8 (g5·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a7·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5·8)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (f2·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f1·10)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to g4 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·17)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g7 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to a8 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (e3·4)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (f8·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Skewer: bishop to a4 (d7)Shuffle Rating 1436Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to g6 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to h6 (d2·5)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to c7 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e5 (c3·6)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e3·6)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: pin on e8 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1489Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (g2·6)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 1: queen to d8 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1732Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Pin: queen to b5Shuffle Rating 1592Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to b8 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 625 →