Day 881: Relative pin
Target rating: 1871
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. Mate in 3: bishop to e5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to c8 (d8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a1·11)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (g1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (g3·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (h7·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (e7·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (f1·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (f8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (e5·6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (h5·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to e3 (f4·2)Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on g5 (h7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6 (c2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to c3 (c7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to c6 (e5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·12)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c8 (b7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (c1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to b6 (g6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a1·14)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b2·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f1 (d1·7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h4·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 882 →