Day 679: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1326
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: pawn to g3 (h2·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to e6 (e1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to a1 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to c8 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to f6 (h8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to c4 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to d6 (c6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to g6 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to g7 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: knight to d4 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (b7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (h5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to e6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: knight to d6 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to e2 (f1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 680 →