Day 926: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1958
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. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·38)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to d5 (g8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to b6 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to h8 (c8·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to c4 (c3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (e1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: rook to f3 (f1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (g4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to e1 (f1·19)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (f6·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: knight to a2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Fork: rook to e1 (e8·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Pin: knight to c3Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e7 (e1·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: queen to a7 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to f8 (d8·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e4·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e3 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to b6 (b5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·26)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to h5 (e5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e7 (a7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to e5 (g7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 927 →