Day 223: Skewer

Target Rating 891

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.

Types of the daySkewer Uncastled king Hanging piece

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a8 (h1·17)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

2. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·8)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (g4·10)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b3 (c2·9)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

5. Winning blow: queen to e8 (d7)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·6)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

7. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b2 (b1·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (c3·4)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h8 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

10. Winning blow: rook to f4Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

12. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d8 (d4)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

13. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f1·14)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

14. Skewer: rook to h7 (h6)Shuffle Rating 962 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

15. Skewer: rook to h6Shuffle Rating 968 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

16. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (g4)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a5 (b4·19)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

18. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (f5)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

19. Winning blow: rook to f1 (b1)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b7 (b4)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

21. Mate in 2: queen to f1 (d3)Shuffle Rating 996 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

22. Winning blow: queen to c4 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

23. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (b3·4)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

24. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·7)Shuffle Rating 920 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

25. Fork: rook to g3 (h3)Shuffle Rating 964 Analysis

Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e3 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1090 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

27. Mate in 3: discovered attack on g8Shuffle Rating 1150 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1220 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to b7 (b2)Shuffle Rating 1060 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

30. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c4 (f1·3)Shuffle Rating 780 Analysis

White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!