The pin in chess: essential tactic
Learn how to create, exploit, and break pins to win material or neutralize attacks. Typical patterns, defensive resources, and drills to boost your rating.
What is a pin?
A pin immobilizes a piece because it protects a more valuable target behind it (king or queen). As long as the line stays open, the pinned piece is severely restricted or cannot move at all.
Pinning the knight on f6
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- f6: Pinned knight
- d8: Queen behind the pin
Three types of pins
Identifying the value of the protected piece sets your priorities for attack and defense.
- Absolute pin: the piece protects the king; it is virtually frozen.
- Relative pin: the piece shields a high-value piece (queen/rook) but can sometimes move.
- Critical-square pin: the piece blocks promotion or a key mating/fork square.
Creating a strong pin
Bishops and rooks thrive on open diagonals and files. Align king + target behind a piece to lock it down.
- Open the line: exchange selectively to activate your bishop or rook.
- Add secondary pressure: stack a rook behind the bishop or the queen behind the rook.
- Threaten a concrete gain: capture the pinned piece or overload its defender.
Converting a pin
A pin is a means to an end. Convert it into material or positional gains.
- Pile up attackers to win the pinned piece.
- Create a double attack on the pinned piece and its defender.
- Use waiting moves to force concessions (local zugzwang).
Defending against pins
Break the line or trade the pinning piece to restore mobility.
- Interpose a piece between the attacker and the target.
- Trade off the pinning piece (often the bishop or rook).
- Counterattack elsewhere to divert enemy forces.
Drills to automate the pattern
Solve 10–15 pin puzzles daily to boost recognition speed.
- Alternate absolute and relative pins to diversify patterns.
- Spot reverse pins (against the opponent’s king) to calculate forcing tactics.
- Combine pin + fork to convert into clean material wins.