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Day 625: 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 e6 (d4·25)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a3·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: queen to b7 (f3·7)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: rook to g8 (g1·13)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Winning blow: bishop to c7 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c7 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Winning blow: queen to c6 (a4·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Winning blow: queen to h7 (c2·3)Shuffle Rating 1290Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (g4·5)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 2: queen to a7 (a3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d2·5)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d7 (d3·11)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 2: queen to h7 (f5·3)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Pin: rook to f1Shuffle Rating 1486Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Mate in 2: knight to g6 (e5·4)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to d3 (c3·3)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f6·3)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Mate in 2: rook to g1 (h1)Shuffle Rating 1341Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
22. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to h6 (e3·6)Shuffle Rating 1420Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Mate in 2: queen to e8 (f7·7)Shuffle Rating 1450Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to f8 (g7·4)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Mate in 2: pin on h6Shuffle Rating 1349Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: queen to d5 (e6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f4 (d2·5)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Discovered attack: knight to e5Shuffle Rating 1736Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 2: queen to g7 (c3·2)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: queen to e7 (e3·3)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 626 →