Pins & pitfalls (1)
In this lesson you can always win material with an attack on a pinned piece.
There are always two possibilities: one is the right solution, the other is a pitfall. In the trick solution, the opponent can save himself by defending well (by moving away, protecting, capturing or blocking).
To avoid falling into a pitfall, you have to stay focused and think ahead. Do you think you have found the right move? Then try to think up what your opponent’s next move may be. Can he still defend the attacked piece? If he can, you'll have to look for a better move.
What do you have to do?
Win material by attacking a pinned piece. Make sure that it is impossible for your opponent to defend his piece.
The black knight is pinned.
White attacks this knight with the rook.
This can be done in two ways: on e5 and on d1.
Both moves look equally good. But they are not!
If White places the rook on d1 (Re1-d1, red arrow), black can defend the knight with his king (Kf7-e6).
This is why White has to play the rook to e5.
Now, Black cannot defend the knight with the king.
