Day 198: Absolute pin
Target rating: 856
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. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g4 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b4 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (h3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (a1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (e1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to c5 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d5 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b4 (d2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e1 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to e3 (g4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Fork: knight to g5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d3 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 199 →