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Day 201: Skewer

Lesson of the day

A skewer is a pin turned inside out: the valuable piece stands in front and something cheaper hides behind it. The big piece must step aside, and you collect the one that was sheltering in its shadow. Scan for the enemy king or queen sharing a file, rank or diagonal with another enemy piece. The deadliest version comes with check — the king moves, the rook behind it dies.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (g2·30)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·14)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (d2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f4 (c1·15)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h8Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a5 (e1·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to e5 (d4·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to d5 (e6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to c8 (g4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d1·12)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c8 (a8·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (a1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a1·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to c3 (e4)Shuffle Rating 932Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to c6Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to c3 (g7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b1·12)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to c6 (c5·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: queen to d8Shuffle Rating 937Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c6 (e4·8)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to a4 (a1)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 1: queen to h4 (h6)Shuffle Rating 961Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to d7 (d4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 202 →