Day 79: Absolute pin
Target rating: 708
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 g5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (f4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (g1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d7 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (f4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d1 (b1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to h8 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to a5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·37)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (f1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to b5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e7 (d6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 80 →