Day 553: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1157
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: king to c2 (d2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to f2 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: king to a2 (b1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: king to g1 (f2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to g2 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: king to f2 (f1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to b3 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to c2 (b1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to h2 (g1·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to c6 (d4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e5 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to c6 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: bishop to a6 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to e5 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to g4 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to d7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: bishop to g6 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 554 →