Day 177: Absolute pin
Target rating: 833
Lesson of the day
An absolute pin freezes a piece on the line between its own king and your long-range attacker: moving it is simply illegal. The pattern is three units on one straight line — your bishop, rook or queen, an enemy piece, and the enemy king behind it. A pinned piece neither attacks nor defends anything: treat it as if it were off the board. Pile up on it, ideally with a pawn, because running away is against the rules.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: queen to f5 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to c3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g2 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: king to a2 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (b3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e6 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to g4 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to g4 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: knight to d6 (f5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: discovered attack on h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f6 (a1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to f8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 178 →