Day 382: Skewer
Target rating: 1097
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: rook to e2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to h8 (d8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to e4 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d1 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (h3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to g2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Skewer: bishop to b6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: queen to h5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: knight to a7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to h2 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: rook to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Discovered attack: bishop to d8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to c3 (e4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to e5 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: fork on h5 (e5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a1 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 383 →