Day 243: Absolute pin
Target rating: 920
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: queen to f4 (c1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a3 (b2·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to b2 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (b1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e8 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h1 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to d4 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (b1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Pin: knight to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: king to d2 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to g5 (h3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to h5 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b2 (a1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f7 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: king to d1 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c3 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to a7 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 244 →