Day 511: Skewer
Target rating: 1106
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e2 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f3 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to e3 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to f2 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f1 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to a1 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to g7 (f5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 512 →