Day 647: Relative pin
Target rating: 1432
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: king to c1 (b1·17)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g1 (g2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g3·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c4 (c5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2 (a7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·36)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (c3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (h5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (c5·24)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d5 (c6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (e1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (f4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to g7 (a1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e1 (b1·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a4·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g3·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to g7 (e7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to f7 (c7·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (d4·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (d5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 648 →