Chess960 puzzles: Early queen raid
From an odd starting square the queen raids before defences exist.
The early queen raid: from an odd starting square the queen bursts into the game before any defense exists. In classical chess an early queen sortie gets punished, but in Chess960 it sometimes hits squares that literally no one can defend. The sign: within a move or two the queen reaches an unprotected pawn or piece near the enemy king. First check whether the queen can be chased with tempo — otherwise the raid just loses time.
117 puzzles
Mate in 1: queen to g5
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (b3)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·2)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (a4)
Winning blow: queen to e5 (a1)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (g1)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (g1·2)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b1
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (a4)
Winning blow: queen to a8 (h1)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h4 (f2·2)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (d3)
Winning blow: queen to g1
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (b7)
Winning blow: queen to a7
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (h5)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g5 (h4)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f3 (f2)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b2 (a1·4)
Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h2