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Day 818: 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. Mate in 3: knight to f5 (g3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: pawn to h8 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to a7 (a5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to d4 (d1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to e1 (h1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: rook to b1 (d1·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h6 (h2·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: pawn to b5 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: bishop to e3 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: rook to e1 (e8·2)Shuffle Rating 1924Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (a1·16)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: rook to c8 (h8·5)Shuffle Rating 1930Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Fork: rook to f6Shuffle Rating 1946Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Skewer: queen to f6Shuffle Rating 1983Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d4 (g1·7)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: rook to g8 (g7·4)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: queen to c2Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to a8 (a7·8)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: knight to f5 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: queen to a7 (e3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e8Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (g8·4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (f3·4)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: rook to f8 (f7·3)Shuffle Rating 1670Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: rook to b7 (b4·2)Shuffle Rating 1950Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Pin: rook to b8Shuffle Rating 2008Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 3: discovered attack on f4Shuffle Rating 2025Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: knight to g3 (e2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: rook to d8 (c8)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 819 →