Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for resource allocation in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network. A relay node in an IAB network may be assigned a first resource partition that is different from a second resource partition for the child and parent nodes. Based on a resource configuration (e.g., for a slot) of the second resource partition, the relay node may opportunistically utilize the second resource partition for communications. For instance, the relay node may determine a direction table based on the resource configurations of the child and parent nodes, which may be used to perform uplink or downlink communications in one or more symbols of the second resource partition. The relay node may also identify flexible symbols as free or non-free when determining the direction table.