Day 606: Skewer
Target rating: 1376
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. Winning blow: king to d2 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e7 (c6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (e2·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (g3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to b7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (e4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a4 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to b8 (d6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Skewer: rook to h1 (h8)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Skewer: rook to a2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to d3 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (g1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 607 →