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Day 965: Win the pinned piece

Lesson of the day

A pinned piece cannot flee, which means you can win it outright by attacking it one more time. Count attackers against defenders: if you outnumber them, the piece is yours. The best extra attacker is a pawn, since it costs less than anything it might capture. Do not rush the capture — build up the pressure first, then harvest.

Warm-up

1. Fork: pawn to g6 (g7)Shuffle Rating 2193Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
2. Pin: knight to d4Shuffle Rating 2199Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
3. Fork: queen to g4 (h3)Shuffle Rating 2199Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Pin: bishop to c5Shuffle Rating 2200Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
5. Fork: queen to f4 (f6)Shuffle Rating 2200Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
6. Fork: queen to h4 (g5)Shuffle Rating 2215Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
7. Fork: rook to g6 (g1)Shuffle Rating 2220Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f5·9)Shuffle Rating 2200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Fork: rook to b8Shuffle Rating 2221Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to h2 (c7)Shuffle Rating 2175Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: queen to b6 (a6·6)Shuffle Rating 2240Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on a5 (c3)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on d8 (c8·2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f8 (g8·10)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on e5 (e4·2)Shuffle Rating 2250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Mate in 2: queen to a5 (a7)Shuffle Rating 2182Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 3: knight to d5 (f6·2)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 3: bishop to d7 (b5)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (d5·4)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Mate in 3: queen to b8 (b6·2)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 3: bishop to g6 (f5·2)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 3: knight to f6 (e4·6)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 3: queen to g5 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to h7 (h5·4)Shuffle Rating 2210Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Win the hanging rook on f3 (f8)Shuffle Rating 2143Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: rook to h4 (d4·3)Shuffle Rating 2239Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
27. Rescue the king to g3Shuffle Rating 2311Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Chess960 tactic on g5 (f3)Shuffle Rating 2350Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: pawn to f5 (f4)Shuffle Rating 2170Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Discovered attack: bishop to e7Shuffle Rating 2167Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 966 →