Day 99: 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: queen to f5 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g8 (c4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (b2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (a8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (f3·9)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (f1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (g4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to h2Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to f5Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to g3Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·16)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·20)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g2 (e1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 100 →