Day 219: Absolute pin
Target rating: 884
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 f3 (e2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·65)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to a3 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (c1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e4 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to d5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h3 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to c5 (d7·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (g4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to e6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to g2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: knight to e5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 220 →