Puzzle #15: Pin
Rating ≈ 1550 · 2 moves to find
White to move and win material.
Show a hint
One of the opponent's pieces can't move without exposing something bigger behind it.
Show the solution
- 28. Rc7 — the rook goes to c7.
- 28… Qxc7 is the best defence.
- 29. Bxc7 — the bishop takes the queen on c7.
Why it works. The pinned piece can't move without exposing something more valuable, so it falls. At the end of the line White is about 4 points of material better off.
Themes: Pin, Decoy, Winning material
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This position comes from a training game and was checked with a chess engine: every move you need to find is the only one that works.