Day 684: Skewer
Target rating: 1484
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: pawn to c4 (d3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f4 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Skewer: rook to e8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: rook to f7 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: queen to h1 (c6)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to b6 (g1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Win the hanging knight on d5Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (g5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to f5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f7·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e2 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b1 (b2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 685 →