Chess960 puzzles: Overload

One defender guards two things — it cannot do both jobs.

Overloading exploits a defender with two jobs at once — guarding a piece and covering a mating square, for instance. It cannot do both: your first strike forces it to handle one duty and abandon the other. Find the overworked piece by asking what happens to each of its charges if it gets distracted. Then hit one target and collect the other — an overloaded defender only pretends to defend.

295 puzzles

Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: bishop to e2

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·2)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: rook to c5 (c4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: queen to h5 (h4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (d2·14)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: rook to g8 (g3)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to c6 (d8)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to d8 (e6·3)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: pawn to e7 (d6)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: queen to h8 (f8)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: rook to c8 (e8)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·87)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to e6 (c5·4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (g4·2)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b1·11)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to e8 (c7)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (g3·53)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: pawn to g5 (h4·5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (d3·5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Tactics