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Day 328: 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: knight to a1 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to d4 (b3·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f6 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to h3 (h4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e7 (d5·10)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (e3·8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c5 (e7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·19)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: knight to c7 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Skewer: rook to b7Shuffle Rating 1121Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: rook to a3 (a4·2)Shuffle Rating 1135Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: rook to b3Shuffle Rating 1143Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to g5 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f4 (f1·7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to c5 (b7·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h2 (g1·8)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to g6 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c2 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to f6 (f2·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to b5 (b1)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (e2·3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a5 (a6·4)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h6 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (d4·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: pawn to f6Shuffle Rating 1342Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1090Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to a7 (b8)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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