Skewer exercises

The valuable piece is in front; when it steps aside the piece behind falls. Play the winning move on the board below. Each position is verified: the solution is the strongest move, and the write-up tells you exactly what it wins. Read the full skewer guide first if the pattern is new to you.

Solved 0 of 3 · first-try accuracy 0%

1. Exercise 1: White to play: win material.

   Position (FEN): 3kr1r1/1P5K/8/8/8/b7/8/7Q w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: win material.

   easy · wins ~8 pawns

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   b8=Q+ — b8=Q+ wins about 8 pawns of material by force: the pawn hits d8 and Black cannot cover everything. The next best try, b8=R+, leaves the position roughly level.

2. Exercise 2: White to play: win material.

   Position (FEN): 8/8/6N1/q4BK1/8/1k6/3r1r2/Q3n3 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: win material.

   easy · wins ~6 pawns

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Qxa5 — Qxa5 wins about 6 pawns of material by force: the queen hits d2 and Black cannot cover everything. The next best try, Qb1+, leaves the position roughly level.

3. Exercise 3: White to play: win material.

   Position (FEN): 4r3/2P1b1r1/1QK2n2/8/8/6k1/8/8 w - - 0 1

   8

   7

   6

   5

   4

   3

   2

   1a

   b

   c

   d

   e

   f

   g

   h

   White to play: win material.

   medium · wins ~5 pawns

   Hint 1Show solution
   Written solution

   Qg1+ — Qg1+ wins about 5 pawns of material by force: the queen hits g3 and Black cannot cover everything. The next best try, Qe3+, leaves the position roughly level.