Day 465: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1198
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: queen to b2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to h6 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to d7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to g8 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to d5 (a8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to d7 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e2 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to b1 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (h1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to b3 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to a8 (a7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to b3 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to d3 (c2·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to c5 (d4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (b1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Skewer: bishop to f6Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
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