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Day 684: 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: pawn to c4 (d3·8)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: queen to f4 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e7 (f5·22)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d8 (d2·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·13)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e7·6)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e2·6)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g6·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: rook to e7 (c7·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 2: knight to b6 (d5·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Skewer: rook to e8 (g8)Shuffle Rating 1614Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Skewer: rook to f7 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Skewer: queen to h1 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1621Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to g8 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to b6 (g1·5)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Win the hanging knight on d5Shuffle Rating 1486Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (g5·3)Shuffle Rating 1487Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Fork: knight to f5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1568Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f7·2)Shuffle Rating 1568Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to c6 (e5·24)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to e2 (b5)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·21)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to h8 (h7·5)Shuffle Rating 1440Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to b1 (b2·2)Shuffle Rating 1480Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to d6 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (e6·8)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: king to b1 (c2·9)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: rook to a7 (a1·8)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: queen to c8 (c6·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: pawn to g7 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 685 →