Day 455: Absolute pin
Target rating: 1032
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. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (f3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (h2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to f1 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d4 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to g2 (f2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to d8 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 456 →