Day 627: Skewer
Target rating: 1409
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: rook to e8 (e1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to c6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a8 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to d6 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g3·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Skewer: rook to f7 (f4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: queen to f1Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: bishop to g5 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Skewer: rook to g2 (c2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e5 (e1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to a1 (d4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f3 (f6·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to h3 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to f3 (f7)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to f5 (b5)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (e7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 628 →