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Day 606: 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: king to d2 (e2·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·7)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e7 (c6·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to d6 (c4·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b5 (e2·9)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to f1 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to d6 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (g3·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to b7 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (e4·6)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a4 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to b8 (d6·4)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f8 (e8·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to d6 (d2·6)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Skewer: rook to h1 (h8)Shuffle Rating 1459Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Skewer: rook to a2Shuffle Rating 1459Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: knight to d3 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to f7 (d5·6)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a7 (g1·6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: queen to c8 (c4·6)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: queen to c7 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (e3·20)Shuffle Rating 1390Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to d8 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to e8 (e1·12)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c4 (f1·18)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to g4 (e2·8)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·20)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Discovered attack: knight to d4 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1481Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: bishop to g7 (h6·5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 607 →