Day 264: Absolute pin
Target rating: 940
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: bishop to e6 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (c5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a3 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (a1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h7 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h4 (h1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (b4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: bishop to g5 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: bishop to c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b3 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to f6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g1 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (h6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 265 →