Pins & pitfalls (2)
In this lesson you have to be careful not to play too fast. Because it's another lesson full of trick exercises.
You can win material by attacking a pinned piece. There are always two possibilities: one is the right solution, the other is a dupe. In the trick solution the opponent can escape your threat by defending with a counter-attack.
To avoid falling into a pitfall, you have to check carefully that your opponent can't counter-attack.
What do you have to do?
Win material by attacking a pinned piece.
The black bishop is pinned.
White can attack the bishop in two ways: with the pawn (e3-e4), or with the knight (Nc2-b4).
What is the best move?
If the white pawn moves up (red arrow), Black can place a counterattack: he moves his rook to c8 (green arrow).
This is a smart move: Black attacks the undefended white knigh and at the same time breaks the pin.
That is why White should use the knight to attack the black bishop.
Black cannot use a counterattack to rescue the bishop.
