Day 539: Skewer
Target rating: 1150
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: king to h1 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: king to g3 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to a3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to b2 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (b2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to h1 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to e2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to e1 (d3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1 (b1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e8 (e2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 2: queen to c5 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (a7·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to g7 (h7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (f4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to g6 (h5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to c5 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to f4 (h4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to b5 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 540 →