Day 398: Absolute pin
Target rating: 1112
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: knight to g5 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (d5·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to f5 (g3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to f8 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to g2 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e7 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to d5 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to b3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to a4 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·25)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g4 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g5 (c1·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to h3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to a3 (a2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to b7 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 399 →