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Day 919: Sacrifice attack

Lesson of the day

A sacrificial attack gives up material on purpose to rip the king's shelter open and launch a decisive assault. The sac is sound when you get concrete assets in return: open lines to the king, tempi, pieces ready to pour in. The signs: a poorly sheltered king, your forces aimed at its home, defenders stranded far away. The iron rule is to calculate, not hope — once the material is gone, there is no way back.

Warm-up

1. Winning blow: pawn to c3 (d2·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g8 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (c5·12)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·23)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to b4 (c3·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1·13)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c5 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e7 (e8·6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to f1 (g1·30)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f7 (h5·7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: knight to e2Shuffle Rating 2075Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: pin on g3Shuffle Rating 2076Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Fork: rook to g4Shuffle Rating 2077Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to g3 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 2079Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Fork: rook to f3 (f1)Shuffle Rating 2081Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: pawn to f7 (g6·2)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: knight to c6 (a5·4)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (d2·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (a4·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (e6·4)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to e4 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to a8 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b7·4)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: knight to b4 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 2184Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Discovered attack: queen to h2 (h6)Shuffle Rating 2249Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: pawn to h3 (h4)Shuffle Rating 2089Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to e3 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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