Day 947: Win the pinned piece
Target rating: 1996
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 2: double attack on g4Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (g8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to g6 (h6·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 2: rook to c8 (c1·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 2: queen to b2 (h2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to c6 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Chess960 tactic on c5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (h2·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Chess960 tactic on f5 (e4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Chess960 tactic on c5 (f8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to e6 (d4·29)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Deflection: queen to g6 (e6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: knight to f5 (d4·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: rook to b8 (b7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Chess960 tactic on g1Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Chess960 tactic on c6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Chess960 tactic on e6 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e7 (b4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f7·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (g6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Chess960 tactic on c8 (e8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Chess960 tactic on f4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Chess960 tactic on g7 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Chess960 tactic on d8 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 948 →