Day 388: Relative pin
Target rating: 1107
Lesson of the day
In a relative pin the piece shields not its king but something valuable behind it, usually the queen. Moving is legal but costly, because the piece behind falls. Look for three units on one line: your long-range piece, a cheaper enemy piece, and an expensive one hiding behind. Beware the classic trap — a relatively pinned piece can still move with check or a bigger threat, so verify before you cash in.
Warm-up
1. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (d4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e7 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (e4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e8 (h8·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (b6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to e6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (g2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to a3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (b4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (e2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c4 (b4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (e3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (b2·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 389 →