Day 95: Absolute pin
Target rating: 728
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. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a3 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (c4·59)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·56)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (c3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (f2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to b7 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d1 (f1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h6Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (e3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c2 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to h8 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a4 (c3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b6 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 96 →