Day 442: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1176
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. Winning blow: king to d1 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to c1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to f6 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: king to g1 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to g1 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to d5 (a8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to c2 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (b1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to g6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to b1 (d1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to g8 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (a4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to e7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to d7 (c7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to a1 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·40)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to d2 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (c6·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 443 →