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Day 740: 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: knight to d4 (e2·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to c8 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to d7 (a4·3)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·17)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to a4 (c2·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (f3·17)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to h8 (e5·4)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to b5 (a4·14)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·6)Shuffle Rating 1280Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·17)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (e4·3)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: bishop to g6 (h7·5)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: queen to c5 (c4·4)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 3: bishop to d3Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: pawn to f6Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: bishop to d4Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (b8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: pawn to e8Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: rook to e7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: rook to f8 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 3: queen to c6 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: rook to f5 (f8)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: queen to f4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 1780Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to h4 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to c8 (b8·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 741 →