Pins: pieces that cannot move
In short
A pin happens when a piece cannot move because a more valuable piece stands behind it on the same line. If the piece behind is the king, the pin is absolute: moving the pinned piece is illegal.
By the end you can
- Recognise absolute and relative pins
- Attack a pinned piece
The lesson
A pin happens when a piece cannot move because a more valuable piece stands behind it on the same line. If the piece behind is the king, the pin is absolute: moving the pinned piece is illegal. If it is a queen or rook, the pinned piece can move, but that loses the bigger piece.
A pinned piece is a weak piece. Attack it again — often with a pawn — and it may be lost, because it cannot run away.
Key points to remember
- Pin = piece stuck in front of a bigger piece
- Absolute pin: king behind
- Attack pinned pieces again
Examples
Show the solution
55... Rc4 56. Qxc4+ Kxc4
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: pin puzzles.
Homework
15 pin puzzles. In games, notice every pin on the board.
More tactics lessons
- Hanging pieces: take them and don’t leave them (Novice)
- Double attacks and forks (Novice)
- Forks with every piece (Class F)
- Using and breaking pins (Class F)
- Skewers and x-rays (Class F)
- Discovered attacks and double check (Class F)