Day 286: Absolute pin
Target rating: 976
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 h2 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (c3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·49)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to b8 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·68)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to c4 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f1 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to e1 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to f4 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to f1 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·34)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 287 →