Day 581: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1202
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: queen to c2 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to e5 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a4 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to f5 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to f7 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to d5 (e3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e7 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to g8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to g6 (h4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (e6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to c6 (b6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to h4 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (f5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to h3 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c4 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a6 (a5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to d7 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: rook to g6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 582 →