Day 417: Relative pin
Target rating: 1137
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 b7 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to f7 (h6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: queen to g6 (g5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (c4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: knight to g6 (e5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (f6·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (c3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: knight to e5 (f3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to c4 (d3·36)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to d8 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to b6 (a6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to a6 (e2·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (h1·13)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to e3 (e1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g5 (h4·30)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (h1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: queen to a5 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Mate in 2: rook to d8 (d1·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: bishop to d7Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: knight to e1 (d3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to g5 (c1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Mate in 2: pawn to a4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: rook to a6 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to a8 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to c6 (b5·8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 418 →