Day 819: Absolute pin
Target rating: 1591
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. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (h8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to e3 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to e4 (h1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (c8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: rook to b1 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to d8 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to c4 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·72)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: pawn to h6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: pawn to b6 (a5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: pawn to a4 (a2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: bishop to b6 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f4 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a4 (a3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to c7 (c2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: rook to a7 (b7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (f7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: bishop to b1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to a6 (b5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (a6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 820 →