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Day 776: 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. Mate in 3: queen to f6 (d6)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to f6 (h4·4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: queen to e7 (g7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to e1 (f1)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: knight to f7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to a7Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: queen to d7 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: rook to g3 (f3)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (h7)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to c5 (f8·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: rook to g5 (g1)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (g6)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Winning blow: queen to e6 (f5·6)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Winning blow: rook to e8 (e3·5)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Mate in 3: queen to e3 (d2)Shuffle Rating 1815Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
16. Winning blow: rook to d8 (d3·7)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: bishop to e6 (f5·6)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to a6 (e2·6)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b8 (d6·2)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·16)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to f5 (d5·3)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: queen to e6 (e2·9)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Attack on the uncastled king: queen to b5 (d5)Shuffle Rating 1700Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: rook to g7 (g4·2)Shuffle Rating 1658Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Fork: pawn to f4 (f5)Shuffle Rating 1739Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: queen to f8 (f7·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Winning blow: queen to d6 (h6·3)Shuffle Rating 1790Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
28. Deflection: queen to e6Shuffle Rating 1975Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (c4)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 2: knight to a6 (c5·2)Shuffle Rating 1630Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

Day 777 →