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Day 643: X-ray

Lesson of the day

An X-ray lets a long-range piece act through an enemy piece standing on the same line — its power shines straight through. The square behind looks safe or defended, and that illusion is exactly what the tactic exploits. Check your rooks, bishops and queens: is a key square or a target hiding behind an enemy piece on their line? When counting captures on a square, include the X-ray attackers — they join the fight the moment the line opens.

Types of the dayX-rayMate in 2Setup fork

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a7·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (h8·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a6 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (d5·5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: rook to g7 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h4·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to h2 (h1·5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (b8)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·19)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to b8 (b7·4)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to e6 (h3·6)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (d4·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to c7 (d7·4)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f3·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e4·11)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c1·13)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (d6·4)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e4·6)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d1·17)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (b1·13)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: pin on f7Shuffle Rating 1576Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Win the hanging bishop on h4Shuffle Rating 1337Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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