Day 314: Absolute pin
Target rating: 1004
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. Winning blow: queen to f4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (d2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·27)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·36)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h2 (h1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to e8 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e5 (a1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d6 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to f1 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (b6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: knight to e4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: knight to d6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (e6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: pawn to c8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: king to c2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to a1 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e6 (d5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b6 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 315 →