Day 784: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1528
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: knight to c5 (d3·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·116)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (f5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g6 (f5·21)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·61)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to f3 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h8 (g7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to c6 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h3 (f1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to f5 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (e2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (a7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (h4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (h1·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: pawn to g7 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: rook to e7 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (g1·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: pawn to f7 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e7 (f7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 785 →