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Day 99: 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: queen to f5 (e5)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b6 (a5·10)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to h6 (g5·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (g5·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f5 (f4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d4 (c3·23)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: queen to g8 (c4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f3 (g2·11)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g7 (b2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to c6 (a8)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Winning blow: knight to e7 (d5·10)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to e4 (f3·9)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g2 (f1·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Winning blow: pawn to h5 (g4·3)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to h2Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to f5Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c5 (d4·7)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: bishop to g3Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (e4·13)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to e4 (f3·16)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h5 (d1·6)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d6 (c5·20)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to f5 (g3·3)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to g2 (e1·4)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to c4 (g8)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 1: queen to g2 (h1)Shuffle Rating 972Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Mate in 2: rook to h8 (h2)Shuffle Rating 995Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d6)Shuffle Rating 925Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to e6 (g5·7)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 100 →