Day 879: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1866
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. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: pawn to e5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: king to g1 (h2·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: bishop to f6 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (a5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: pawn to g7 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to c7 (b8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: knight to c4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to g3 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e5·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to c5 (c1·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: rook to f5 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: bishop to c7 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: rook to h6 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to f3 (f1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: queen to f6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to h5 (c5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g8 (d5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (d4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f8 (f1·22)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (c4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 880 →