Day 719: Skewer
Target rating: 1541
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: knight to d7 (e5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to g7 (g5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b6 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b4 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: queen to e8 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to e7 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to d7 (c5·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to b6 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (b5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d8 (d7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (a1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: rook to e3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: deflection on f2 (h4)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to b1 (d3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to h4 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f5 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to b3 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c1 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to g1 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to b5 (c3·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to f1 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 720 →