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Day 382: 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. Winning blow: rook to e2 (d2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to h8 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d6·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to e4 (g4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (f1·13)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to d1 (e3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·35)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (h3·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to g2Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Skewer: bishop to b6Shuffle Rating 1179Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: queen to h5Shuffle Rating 1185Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: knight to a7Shuffle Rating 1198Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to h2 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e1·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Discovered attack: rook to e8Shuffle Rating 1178Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Discovered attack: bishop to d8Shuffle Rating 1179Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to c3 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 1178Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
19. Fork: knight to e5 (f3·3)Shuffle Rating 1179Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1167Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: fork on h5 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1168Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a1 (b1·5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to d5 (g5)Shuffle Rating 1169Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h3 (h2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 1170Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c5 (d3·11)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Castling-960 to the rescue on b1 (d1·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Fork: pawn to f5 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1427Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to d5 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to f5 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 383 →