Day 902: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1898
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: rook to c7 (c5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to c7 (c6·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to e4 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b7 (f3·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to d7 (c6·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to f5 (e4·18)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e8 (f8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: bishop to b6 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to f6 (b2·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (c8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to b7 (b3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Discovered attack: queen to f4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Discovered attack: knight to c3 (d5·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Pin: queen to c8Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (e4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: pawn to g5 (g4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: knight to a5 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: knight to f5 (e3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: rook to a8 (a1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (e4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to e7 (g7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (c7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to b6 (e3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 903 →