Day 602: Absolute pin
Target rating: 1219
Lesson of the day
An absolute pin freezes a piece on the line between its own king and your long-range attacker: moving it is simply illegal. The pattern is three units on one straight line — your bishop, rook or queen, an enemy piece, and the enemy king behind it. A pinned piece neither attacks nor defends anything: treat it as if it were off the board. Pile up on it, ideally with a pawn, because running away is against the rules.
Warm-up
1. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (f5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to d5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d2 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to d3 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to b2 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to e8 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d7 (g4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d7 (h3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: knight to c4 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (f5·28)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b7 (b3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (c6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to g7 (c7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to h7 (g7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to d7 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to h8 (c8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (e4·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to f7 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 603 →