Day 328: Skewer
Target rating: 1027
Lesson of the day
A skewer is a pin turned inside out: the valuable piece stands in front and something cheaper hides behind it. The big piece must step aside, and you collect the one that was sheltering in its shadow. Scan for the enemy king or queen sharing a file, rank or diagonal with another enemy piece. The deadliest version comes with check — the king moves, the rook behind it dies.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a1 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to d4 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h3 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c5 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Skewer: rook to b7Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: rook to a3 (a4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: rook to b3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h2 (g1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to b5 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 329 →