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Day 388: Relative pin

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)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: knight to b5 (d4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to c6 (a7·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: knight to e5 (d3·6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: knight to e7 (c6)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Winning blow: knight to d7 (f6·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Attack on the uncastled king: king to b1 (c1·2)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: knight to d7 (e5·4)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to b7 (e4·5)Shuffle Rating 920Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to h5 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e8 (h8·3)Shuffle Rating 1150Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: queen to f6 (e7)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to c5 (b6)Shuffle Rating 1060Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f5 (f4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to e6 (c6)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: pawn to g3 (g2·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to a3 (d3)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (b4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to d3 (e2·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to f2 (g1·4)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c4 (b4·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to h6 (e3·2)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: pawn to b3 (b2·6)Shuffle Rating 1110Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Winning blow: queen to f3 (g2·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Mate in 1: queen to f2 (e1·2)Shuffle Rating 1275Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to g6 (c2·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a8 (g2·2)Shuffle Rating 780Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Winning blow: queen to b7 (a8·3)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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