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Day 455: Absolute pin

Lesson of the day

An absolute pin freezes a piece on the line between its own king and your long-range attacker: moving it is simply illegal. The pattern is three units on one straight line — your bishop, rook or queen, an enemy piece, and the enemy king behind it. A pinned piece neither attacks nor defends anything: treat it as if it were off the board. Pile up on it, ideally with a pawn, because running away is against the rules.

Warm-up

1. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e2 (d3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to h5 (g3·17)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (f3·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g3 (h2·23)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (c1·5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·30)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: king to h1 (h2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to g7 (h8·4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to f1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·21)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to d4 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c7 (a7)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (h7·2)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h8 (h7)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b3·3)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e4 (d5)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: king to g2 (f2·5)Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to d6 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to d8 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1010Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to a8Shuffle Rating 970Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b4 (d3·12)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to c5 (d4·5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: queen to g6 (h5·5)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to f6 (g6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a1 (b1·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 456 →