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Day 300: 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: king to f1 (e1·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g7 (f5·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h4 (g3·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·47)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to d2 (c1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h3 (f3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b2 (c2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g8 (g5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h4 (f2·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c2 (b4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to h6 (g6·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e6 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: rook to f7Shuffle Rating 1095Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Skewer: queen to b5 (a6)Shuffle Rating 1097Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Skewer: rook to b4Shuffle Rating 1103Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to b7 (a6·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to b6 (f2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: king to e4Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to c3 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (b1·10)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to g5 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·35)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (c4·32)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to b8 (b4·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g4 (h5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e2 (d3·2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (g1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (f3·3)Shuffle Rating 1080Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 301 →