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Day 747: 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: queen to b5 (f5·4)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·10)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to c5 (a7·6)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·22)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to b7 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to a5 (b3·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c7 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (a5·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c1·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Fork: knight to d4 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 1724Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (d8·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (f7·2)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to c6 (e8·4)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Discovered attack: bishop to h7 (d3·9)Shuffle Rating 1822Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to f4 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to g1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to d1Shuffle Rating 1639Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: pawn to b6 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to g8 (g5·4)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: king to h2Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Pin: queen to d6Shuffle Rating 1814Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: pawn to f8 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Trap the pawn on g4Shuffle Rating 1903Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: knight to e4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to c5 (b5·3)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 748 →