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Day 79: 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. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: pawn to g5 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e3 (g1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: king to c1Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to a8 (h1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d7 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e6 (d5·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b8 (f4·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f4 (e3·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (d3·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to d1 (b1)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to h8 (g8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to a5 (d5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to c7 (c1·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·20)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e5 (d4·37)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·9)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e5 (b2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (b3·17)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: king to f2 (f1)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e3 (d2·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: knight to b5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e7 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (e2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d5 (e4·112)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: bishop to h4 (f2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: rook to c1Shuffle Rating 1001Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Fork: knight to e5 (f3)Shuffle Rating 907Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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