Day 575: Relative pin
Target rating: 1342
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. Winning blow: queen to f5 (g4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b5 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: bishop to h5 (d1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·15)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: bishop to f3 (g4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c4 (e3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: king to g1 (h2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to a5 (b3·23)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d5 (f3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e4·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Winning blow: queen to h7 (c2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: knight to f5 (d6·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to a7 (a5·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to e5 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to d4 (d6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to f6 (c6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to f5 (d3·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Castling-960 to the rescue on b1 (c1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: rook to b7 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Castling-960 to the rescue on a8 (c8·3)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to g7 (f7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Castling-960 to the rescue on d1 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: bishop to g6 (h5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 2: queen to c4Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Castling-960 to the rescue on b8 (c8·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 576 →