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Day 775: Absolute pin

Lesson of the day

An absolute pin freezes a piece on the line between its own king and your long-range attacker: moving it is simply illegal. The pattern is three units on one straight line — your bishop, rook or queen, an enemy piece, and the enemy king behind it. A pinned piece neither attacks nor defends anything: treat it as if it were off the board. Pile up on it, ideally with a pawn, because running away is against the rules.

Warm-up

1. Mate in 3: queen to h8 (h6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (h4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h3·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to a8 (e4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f7 (e6·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: knight to c5 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: bishop to d6 (c5·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: rook to c3Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to b2Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: rook to d6 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: knight to b5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to e3 (d4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to g4 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: knight to e5 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to b8Shuffle Rating 1737Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to h1 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1736Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 1: knight to c6Shuffle Rating 1713Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to c1Shuffle Rating 1726Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 2: deflection on g5 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 1734Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b7 (b6·6)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to d6 (c5·4)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·15)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: queen to e5 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: queen to a5 (b6·2)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: pawn to f7 (e6·9)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 2: discovered attack on d1Shuffle Rating 1902Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: king to d1 (c1·12)Shuffle Rating 1950Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: pawn to c6 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: knight to d6 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 776 →