Day 370: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1078
Lesson of the day
A pinned piece cannot flee, which means you can win it outright by attacking it one more time. Count attackers against defenders: if you outnumber them, the piece is yours. The best extra attacker is a pawn, since it costs less than anything it might capture. Do not rush the capture — build up the pressure first, then harvest.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b1 (a1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to c6 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f2 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f3 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to e1 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g3 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (e6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to b1 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Discovered attack: knight to e4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h7 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f7 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 371 →