Day 740: Skewer
Target rating: 1593
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 d4 (e2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (a4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (c2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h8 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (a4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (h7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c5 (c4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: bishop to d3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: pawn to f6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: bishop to d4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: pawn to e8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (a4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 741 →