Day 405: Skewer
Target rating: 1118
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: bishop to a7 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (a5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to d8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e3 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a7 (b5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h8 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (e5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d5 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·117)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a8 (a7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to h8 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to h7 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to f3 (g2·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (g1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (c4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h7 (g6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f2 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (a1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to d5 (c5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 406 →