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Day 881: 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: bishop to e5 (d4·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to c8 (d8)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to a8 (a1·11)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: rook to g6 (g1·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to e5 (g3·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: rook to h7 (h1·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g6 (h7·7)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: queen to f7 (e7·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to b5 (f1·3)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (f8·2)Shuffle Rating 1760Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Core set

11. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (e5·6)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Mate in 3: queen to e8 (h5·3)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Mate in 3: bishop to e3 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 2029Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on g5 (h7)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c6 (c2)Shuffle Rating 2120Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: queen to c3 (c7)Shuffle Rating 1950Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
17. Fork: knight to c6 (e5)Shuffle Rating 1871Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: rook to e4 (e1·12)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to c8 (b7·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to d2 (c1)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: queen to b6 (g6)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to a8 (a1·14)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: queen to c3 (b2·4)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Winning blow: rook to f1 (d1·7)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to h7 (h4·3)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Challenge

26. Mate in 3: rook to b4 (a4)Shuffle Rating 1980Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
27. Skewer: rook to g4 (g7)Shuffle Rating 2145Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
28. Attack on the uncastled king: knight to b7 (c5·31)Shuffle Rating 2200Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Review

29. Winning blow: rook to f6 (f4·2)Shuffle Rating 1870Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
30. Mate in 3: fork on f6Shuffle Rating 1840Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation

Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!

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