Pin chess puzzles
20 pin puzzles from real games, ordered from easy to hard. Each has a hint and the full solution.
What is a pin in chess?
A pin is an attack on a piece that cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it. If the piece behind is the king, the pin is absolute and the pinned piece may not move at all.
How to spot a pin
Look for two enemy pieces on the same line, rank or diagonal, with the more valuable one behind. A bishop, rook or queen on that line creates the pin. Then add pressure on the pinned piece, because it cannot run away.
Learn it first: Pins: pieces that cannot move · Using and breaking pins · Tracking your mistakes
Pin chess puzzles
Puzzle 1: Black to move and mate in 1
Black to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 32. Rxb2.
Puzzle rating 601
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, pin, endgame tactic
Show solution
32... Rc1#
FEN: 6k1/6b1/p2QP1p1/1p1p4/2r1p1B1/8/PR3P2/K7 b - - 0 32
Puzzle 2: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 22... Kf8.
Puzzle rating 973
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
23. Ne6+ Kg8 24. Nxc7
FEN: r4k1r/1bq2pp1/pp6/2bP4/2PN4/3Q2Pp/PP5P/4RR1K w - - 1 23
Puzzle 3: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 37... Bd4.
Puzzle rating 1083
Hint
Theme: fork, pin, hanging piece
Show solution
38. Qxd7 Bxf2+ 39. Rxf2 Qxd7 40. Rxf7+ Qxf7 41. Bxf7
FEN: 8/3r1p1k/2Q3pp/8/3b4/pB4P1/P2q1P1P/5RK1 w - - 2 38
Puzzle 4: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 25... fxe6.
Puzzle rating 1151
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
26. Nd5+ Kd7 27. Nxb4 Bxb4+ 28. Kxb4
FEN: 8/p1p1k1pp/3pp3/K1b5/1rP5/2N3q1/PP2Qn2/R1B5 w - - 0 26
Puzzle 5: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 30... Qe4.
Puzzle rating 1359
Hint
Theme: pin, deflection, clearance
Show solution
31. Qg3+ Qf4 32. Re8+ Rxe8 33. Qxf4+
FEN: 1k3r2/pp4p1/8/3p4/3Pq3/4Q3/PP3P2/K3R3 w - - 2 31
Puzzle 6: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... Nxh4.
Puzzle rating 1399
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Qxh5+ Kg8 30. Qxh4
FEN: 5r2/2p2pbk/4p1p1/7p/1q3P1n/pP3Q2/P5P1/1BBR3K w - - 0 29
Puzzle 7: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 17... Bxd1.
Puzzle rating 1468
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
18. Ng6#
FEN: r2q1r1k/pp2b1pp/8/2p1Np2/2BpP3/P2P4/2P2PK1/R1Bb3R w - - 0 18
Puzzle 8: Black to move and mate in 3
Puzzle 9: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 17. Kf1.
Puzzle rating 1739
Hint
Theme: pin, middlegame tactic
Show solution
17... Bxc4 18. d3 Bxd3 19. hxg4 Bxe2+
FEN: r4r1k/pN4pp/2p1b3/8/2P2Pnq/4P2P/PPnPQPB1/1RB2K1R b - - 2 17
Puzzle 10: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 26... R2xe3.
Puzzle rating 1807
Hint
Theme: pin, endgame tactic
Show solution
27. Rxe3 Rxe3 28. Rc8
FEN: 4q1k1/p4pp1/Q6p/3p4/3PrP2/4rR2/P6P/2R4K w - - 0 27
Puzzle 11: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 7. Be3.
Puzzle rating 1945
Hint
Theme: pin, opening tactic
Show solution
7... Nxe3 8. Nxe3 Bxb2
FEN: rnb1k2r/pppp1ppp/8/8/2NbP1nq/3PBQ2/PPP2PPP/RN2KB1R b KQkq - 4 7
Puzzle 12: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 12... Bd7.
Puzzle rating 1970
Hint
Theme: pin, skewer, middlegame tactic
Show solution
13. Rc1 Qb2 14. Rc8+ Ke7 15. Rxh8
FEN: rn2k2r/pp1b1ppp/4p3/1B1p4/3P4/2q2N2/P4PPP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 2 13
Puzzle 13: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Nxf4.
Puzzle rating 2055
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered attack, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
20. exf7+ Kxf7 21. Qxe7+ Kg6 22. Rxf4
FEN: r3k2r/pp2bppp/2pPP3/2q5/5n2/7P/P1P1Q1P1/R4R1K w kq - 0 20
Puzzle 14: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 11. Qg5.
Puzzle rating 2158
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, Pillsbury’s mate, pin
Show solution
11... Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Qc1+ 13. Rxc1 Rxc1#
FEN: 2r1kb1r/ppqn1ppp/4p3/6Q1/3P2b1/3BP3/PP3PPP/R1B1K1NR b KQk - 1 11
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 18... Bxb2.
Puzzle rating 2206
Hint
Theme: pin, sacrifice, kingside attack
Show solution
19. Bxg7 Bxg7 20. Nf6+ Kh8 21. Nxd7
FEN: r4rk1/pp1q1ppp/3p3B/2pP4/2n1NP2/6QP/PbP3P1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 19
Puzzle 16: Black to move and mate in 5
Black to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 52. a7.
Puzzle rating 2273
Hint
Theme: pin, exposed king, advanced pawn
Show solution
52... g2+ 53. Kh2 Be5+ 54. Kg1 Bd4+ 55. Rf2 Kg3 56. a8=Q h2#
FEN: 5R2/P7/8/8/6k1/2b3pp/8/7K b - - 0 52
Puzzle 17: White to move and mate in 5
White to move and mate in 5. The opponent just played 22... Bxd1.
Puzzle rating 2366
Hint
Theme: pin, discovered attack, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
23. Bg8+ Kxg8 24. Rh8+ Kxh8 25. Qh3+ Bh5 26. Qxh5+ Kg8 27. Qh7#
FEN: r3rb1k/ppq3pB/2p3PR/2n2Q2/8/P1B1P3/1P3PP1/2Kb4 w - - 0 23
Puzzle 18: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 19... Qc6.
Puzzle rating 2428
Hint
Theme: pin, en passant, middlegame tactic
Show solution
20. Bf4 f5 21. exf6
FEN: r1b2rk1/4bpp1/2q1p2p/p2pP3/6Q1/3B1RB1/P1P3PP/1R5K w - - 4 20
Puzzle 19: Black to move and mate in 3
Black to move and mate in 3. The opponent just played 40. b7.
Puzzle rating 2495
Hint
Theme: mate in 3, pin, attraction (decoy)
Show solution
40... Qxh3+ 41. Kxh3 Rh1+ 42. Kg3 h4#
FEN: 6r1/1P2R1pk/3Bp3/p3Pp1p/5P2/P4RKP/5QP1/6rq b - - 0 40
Puzzle 20: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 29. Qf3.
Puzzle rating 2566
Hint
Theme: fork, pin, endgame tactic
Show solution
29... Qc1 30. Rf4 Rxf1+ 31. Qxf1 Re1 32. Qxe1 Qxe1+
FEN: 4r2k/1pq3p1/p6p/3p4/P2P3R/5Q1P/1P4P1/4rR1K b - - 4 29