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Day 789: 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 h8 (h6·3)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to h6 (h7·2)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to b7 (a5·4)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to f6 (d5·13)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to g7 (c3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: king to c2Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Pin: rook to e3 (e8)Shuffle Rating 1868Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·23)Shuffle Rating 1890Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·20)Shuffle Rating 1890Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f6 (a1·6)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Pin: rook to f2Shuffle Rating 1939Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (c4·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f1·6)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (a7·6)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (e1·6)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (f5·7)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to h1 (a8)Shuffle Rating 1768Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d5·5)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·24)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e5·6)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Rescue the queen to e3Shuffle Rating 2016Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: pin on g7Shuffle Rating 1787Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h6·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 790 →