Day 445: Skewer
Target rating: 1176
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: king to d2 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to e2 (d1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to d1 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to f2 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to d3 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d3 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to h3 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to c7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (d1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to f1 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to b4 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8 (h2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d1 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: knight to g5 (h3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h3 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: pawn to h7 (h6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c5 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to c3 (f3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 446 →