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Day 647: 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. Winning blow: king to c1 (b1·17)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: king to g1 (g2)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Winning blow: knight to e2 (g3·5)Shuffle Rating 1250Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Winning blow: pawn to e4 (d3·12)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Winning blow: queen to c4 (c5)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f2 (a7)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to b5 (a4·36)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 2: queen to f6 (c3·4)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Winning blow: pawn to g6 (h5·6)Shuffle Rating 1200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to d7 (c5·24)Shuffle Rating 1320Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 2: knight to c6 (e5·4)Shuffle Rating 1554Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Winning blow: queen to e7 (d7·3)Shuffle Rating 1610Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to d5 (c6·3)Shuffle Rating 1620Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Mate in 3: queen to a5 (e1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to d6 (f4·3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to g2 (g1·12)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: queen to g7 (a1·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e1 (b1·4)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f3·2)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: queen to a6 (a4·4)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: rook to g6 (g3·6)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to g7 (e7·4)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: rook to f7 (c7·2)Shuffle Rating 1510Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: bishop to f6 (d4·5)Shuffle Rating 1430Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: bishop to e4 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1470Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Castling-960 to the rescue on b1 (d1·14)Shuffle Rating 1570Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e5 (e1·6)Shuffle Rating 1650Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Winning blow: knight to g5 (e4·9)Shuffle Rating 1750Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to g7 (f6·6)Shuffle Rating 1560Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: queen to h5 (g4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 648 →