Day 939: Absolute pin
Target rating: 1991
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 d7 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to h8 (h5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to f7 (e7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to e4 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: rook to h5 (h3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (b7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: bishop to f7 (b3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (d7·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to e8 (e7·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to a5 (a3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to a5 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (d3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: pawn to d6 (d5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to f3 (f2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: knight to f5 (e3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to b1 (c1·43)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (d5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: knight to e6 (d4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: king to g2 (h2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 940 →