Day 358: Skewer
Target rating: 1059
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. Winning blow: pawn to c4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to a1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to f2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to a3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to b2 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (b1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to a8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to b8 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Skewer: rook to h4 (h5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to e4 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: bishop to f7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: queen to f1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Fork: knight to b6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to h6 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Fork: bishop to f2 (c5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to e4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Fork: rook to d6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a6 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 359 →