Day 75: Absolute pin
Target rating: 702
Lesson of the day
An absolute pin freezes a piece on the line between its own king and your long-range attacker: moving it is simply illegal. The pattern is three units on one straight line — your bishop, rook or queen, an enemy piece, and the enemy king behind it. A pinned piece neither attacks nor defends anything: treat it as if it were off the board. Pile up on it, ideally with a pawn, because running away is against the rules.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·35)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d2 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b5 (a3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (f4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (c5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (e3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (e5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e1 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·31)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c3 (b2·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h8 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·32)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (a2·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 76 →