Day 527: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1281
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: bishop to c5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c6 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d6 (e4·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to h2 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·39)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to d5 (e4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (c6·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to d8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (h1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to d6 (a6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (c2·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to f4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: bishop to f6 (a1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 528 →