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Day 627: 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 e8 (e1·14)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to c6 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to a8 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to d6 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to f6 (h5·11)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e1·12)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (d4·5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c5 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g3·7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a3·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Skewer: rook to f7 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 1490Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: queen to f1Shuffle Rating 1497Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: bishop to g5 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1511Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Skewer: rook to g2 (c2)Shuffle Rating 1550Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e5 (e1·5)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to a1 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1351Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f3 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1351Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: queen to g3 (b3)Shuffle Rating 1364Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: rook to h3 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1371Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: queen to f3 (f7)Shuffle Rating 1372Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: knight to f6 (e4·11)Shuffle Rating 1380Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 1: queen to f5 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1388Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (e7·2)Shuffle Rating 1404Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (a3·3)Shuffle Rating 1410Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: king to g2 (f1·18)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Discovered attack: pawn to f4Shuffle Rating 1607Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (e8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: rook to f5Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 628 →