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Day 511: 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 e2 (c3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to e6 (d5·14)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to f3 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to c8 (e7·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: king to e3 (d2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c7 (e8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to f2 (g2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e4 (c3·18)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f1 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: king to a1 (a2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: rook to d7 (d4·5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to e5 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d4·7)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (g6)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: knight to g7 (f5·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·16)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to b8 (b5·3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to c7 (c1)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to e7 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d7·2)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·8)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: knight to e6 (g5·9)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to b2 (c1·17)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (f2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (f3·4)Shuffle Rating 1340Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: king to b1 (a2·10)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: bishop to e7 (d8·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a5·5)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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