Day 479: Skewer
Target rating: 1220
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: knight to c6 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g8 (h7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g6 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to e8 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to g7 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to c6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d5 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: king to e2 (f1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (c4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: king to c2 (d1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: bishop to d4 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (e1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Discovered attack: pawn to b3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to b2 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to d2 (d1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Pin: bishop to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to a6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 480 →