When you’re learning chess, one of the first ideas that will help improve your game is understanding basic tactics. One of the most powerful and useful tactics in chess is the “pin.” If you’ve ever played a game of chess and felt trapped or stuck, you might have been caught in a pin without even realizing it.
A pin is a tactic where one of your pieces is stuck in place because moving it would expose a more valuable piece behind it to capture. This simple idea can create a lot of problems for your opponent and give you a big advantage. Today, we’ll break down the power of the pin in a way that’s easy to understand, so you can start using this tactic in your own games.
What Is a Pin in Chess?
In chess, a pin happens when a piece is attacked, but moving it would leave another, more important piece behind it vulnerable. Imagine you have two pieces lined up, one in front of the other.
The first piece is attacked, but it can’t move because if it does, the piece behind it will be captured. This creates a tricky situation because the first piece is “pinned” to the second piece.
Pins are usually created by long-range pieces like the queen, rook, or bishop because they can attack pieces from a distance. To create a pin, you need these pieces to be lined up on the same row, column, or diagonal as your opponent’s pieces.
The Two Types of Pins: Absolute and Relative
Now that you understand what a pin is, let’s break it down a little further. There are two types of pins you should know: absolute pins and relative pins.
Absolute Pin
An absolute pin happens when the piece behind the pinned piece is the king. In this case, the pinned piece cannot move at all because you are not allowed to leave your king in check.
This type of pin is called “absolute” because the rules of chess prevent the pinned piece from moving. Your opponent will be forced to deal with this pin somehow, and this can be a powerful weapon.
Imagine this example: Your opponent has a knight on the square directly in front of their king. You attack the knight with your bishop.
The knight is now pinned because if it moves, the king would be in check. Since the king cannot be left in check, the knight is stuck, giving you control over that part of the board.
Relative Pin
A relative pin is similar, but this time, the piece behind the pinned piece is not the king. It could be any other valuable piece, like a queen or a rook.
While the pinned piece is technically allowed to move, doing so would result in the more valuable piece being captured. This makes the pinned piece less effective because your opponent won’t want to lose a valuable piece by moving it.
For example, if your opponent has a rook on the same line as a queen, and you attack the rook with your bishop, the rook is pinned to the queen.
While the rook is free to move, your opponent likely won’t want to move it because the queen would be captured. This creates a situation where the rook is less effective because it’s “stuck” protecting the queen.
How to Spot and Create Pins
Now that you know what pins are, you need to know how to create them in your games. The best way to do this is by always keeping an eye on how your opponent’s pieces are lined up.
If you notice that two of their pieces are on the same row, column, or diagonal, that’s a good opportunity to create a pin.
Start by thinking about which of your pieces can attack the opponent’s piece that’s in front. Your bishops, rooks, and queens are the best tools for creating pins because they can attack from a distance.
Once you find a way to attack, see if the piece behind is something valuable—like a king or queen—that your opponent won’t want to expose.
Imagine a scenario where your opponent has a bishop and a rook on the same diagonal. If you can bring your queen to attack the bishop, you can pin it to the rook.
Your opponent will be forced to defend or move other pieces, and this gives you the upper hand.
Why Pins Are So Powerful
Pins can turn the tide of a chess game for several reasons. First, they can limit your opponent’s options by restricting the movement of their pieces.
When a piece is pinned, it becomes useless, at least temporarily. This reduces the number of active pieces your opponent can use and gives you more control over the game.
Second, pins can create weaknesses in your opponent’s position. Since your opponent may have a key piece stuck in a pin, they might have to waste time defending it or finding a way to escape the pin.
In the meantime, you can take advantage of the rest of the board, either by launching an attack or improving the positioning of your own pieces.
Finally, pins can lead directly to material gain. If your opponent is unable to break the pin, you may eventually be able to capture the pinned piece or the more valuable piece behind it.
This gives you a material advantage, which is often enough to secure a win.
Defending Against Pins
Of course, just like any powerful tactic, pins can also be used against you. So it’s important to know how to defend against them.
There are several ways to escape a pin, and understanding these defensive tactics will help you avoid getting trapped.
Move the King
The easiest way to escape an absolute pin is by moving your king. Since the pin is created because the pinned piece is protecting the king, moving the king out of the way frees up the pinned piece.
Once the king is out of the pin’s line of attack, the pinned piece is no longer stuck and can move freely.
For example, if your knight is pinned to your king by your opponent’s bishop, moving your king to a safer square will break the pin. After the king moves, the knight can move again, restoring its usefulness.
Block the Attack
Another way to break a pin is by placing another piece in between the pinned piece and the attacking piece. This tactic is often called “interposing” or “blocking.” By putting another piece in the line of attack, you shield the pinned piece, making the pin ineffective.
For instance, if your rook is pinned to your queen by your opponent’s bishop, you could place a pawn in between the two pieces.
This blocks the bishop’s attack and frees up your rook to move. However, be careful with this option—make sure that the piece you use to block the attack doesn’t become a target itself.
Attack the Pinning Piece
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If one of your pieces is pinned, consider attacking the piece that is creating the pin.
If you can force your opponent to move or exchange the pinning piece, the pin will be broken.
For example, if your bishop is pinned by your opponent’s rook, you might be able to use your queen or another piece to attack the rook.
This may force your opponent to trade rooks or move their piece, breaking the pin in the process.
Move the Pinned Piece (When Possible)
In a relative pin, where the piece behind the pinned piece is not the king, you can sometimes choose to move the pinned piece if it makes sense.
Yes, you might lose the piece behind it, but in certain situations, this might be an acceptable trade-off.
Imagine your opponent has pinned your knight to your rook with a queen. If moving the knight allows you to win material elsewhere or launch a strong counterattack, it might be worth losing the rook.
In such cases, carefully weigh the pros and cons before deciding to move a pinned piece.
How Pins Combine with Other Tactics
One of the great things about pins is how they can combine with other chess tactics. A well-placed pin can open the door for forks, skewers, and discovered attacks, amplifying the pressure on your opponent.
Understanding how pins work with these other tactics can make your attacks even more effective.
The Pin and the Fork
A fork occurs when one piece attacks two or more of your opponent’s pieces at the same time. Pins can make forks even more dangerous because the pinned piece cannot move, limiting your opponent’s ability to defend against both threats.
If your opponent has a piece pinned and you create a fork, they will often be forced to lose one of the attacked pieces.
For example, imagine your opponent’s knight is pinned to their queen by your bishop. If you then attack both the knight and another piece (like a rook) with your queen, your opponent cannot move the knight to defend both threats, as moving it would expose their queen to capture.
This combination of a pin and a fork often leads to winning material or gaining a strong position.
The Pin and the Skewer
A skewer is similar to a pin, but in reverse. In a skewer, a more valuable piece is attacked first, and when it moves, a less valuable piece behind it is left vulnerable. If your opponent has a piece pinned, you can sometimes set up a skewer that forces the more valuable piece to move, exposing the pinned piece.
Let’s say your opponent has a bishop pinned to their rook. If you can bring your queen into the right position, you can skewer their rook, forcing them to move it.
When the rook moves, the bishop will be left unprotected, allowing you to capture it.
The Pin and Discovered Attacks
A discovered attack happens when one of your pieces moves, revealing an attack by another piece behind it.
Pins can make discovered attacks even stronger because the pinned piece is unable to move out of the way. This increases the pressure on your opponent and makes it harder for them to defend.
For instance, imagine your opponent has a rook pinned to their queen by your bishop. If you move another piece, like a knight, out of the line of the bishop’s attack, it can create a discovered attack on the pinned rook.
Your opponent is now in a tough spot: they have to deal with both the discovered attack and the pinned piece.
How to Use Pins to Build an Attack
Once you understand the mechanics of the pin, you can use it to create a strong attack in your games. A well-placed pin can serve as the foundation for a broader strategy, keeping your opponent tied up while you take control of the board.
Here’s how you can use pins to gradually build a powerful attack.
Targeting Key Squares
One of the best ways to use a pin is to target important squares on the board. These squares could be near your opponent’s king or center of the board, places that are key to the game.
By pinning one of your opponent’s pieces to a critical square, you can stop their ability to defend it and take over the area.
Imagine you pin your opponent’s knight to their queen on an important central square. Now, they can’t use that knight to control the center, and you are free to place your pieces in strong positions without worrying about the knight’s movements.
This allows you to build pressure and take over key squares that will help you launch a successful attack later on.
Gaining Time (Tempo)
In chess, time is everything. Each move your opponent spends defending against a pin is a move they’re not using to improve their own position.
When you pin one of their pieces, it often forces them to spend a move or two figuring out how to get rid of the pin. This gives you a “tempo,” or a free move, which you can use to strengthen your own position.
For instance, if you pin a knight to your opponent’s rook, they will likely need to waste a move dealing with the pin.
While they’re doing that, you can use your next move to develop another piece or attack elsewhere on the board. Pins, when used correctly, can allow you to gain the upper hand simply by forcing your opponent to respond.
Forcing Weaknesses
Pins often force your opponent to create weaknesses in their position.
Since they need to deal with the pinned piece, they might move pawns or pieces in a way that leaves other parts of their position vulnerable. Once you’ve created these weaknesses, you can direct your pieces to attack them.
Let’s say you pin your opponent’s bishop to their queen. To break the pin, your opponent might push a pawn forward to block your attack.
But in doing so, they may weaken the pawns around their king, leaving them more vulnerable to an attack later in the game.
Pins are excellent tools for forcing your opponent to make difficult choices that create new opportunities for you to attack.
Common Pinning Scenarios
Understanding how to create a pin is essential, but it’s equally important to recognize common situations where pins arise.
Knowing these scenarios will help you stay alert to potential pins in your games.
Pinning a Knight to the Queen or King
One of the most common pins in chess involves pinning a knight to a more valuable piece, such as the queen or the king.
Knights are short-range pieces that rely heavily on their ability to move around the board freely. When you pin a knight, you take away its mobility and reduce its influence on the game.
For example, if your opponent’s knight is protecting their king, you can use a bishop to pin it. The knight will be unable to move because that would leave the king in check.
This leaves your opponent in a tough position, as the knight is now stuck, and you can focus on creating other threats.
Pinning a Rook to a Queen
Rooks are powerful pieces, especially in the late stages of the game. Pinning a rook to a queen is a great way to reduce its power.
Because rooks usually defend key squares or attack open files, pinning a rook can disrupt your opponent’s plans and limit their control over the board.
For instance, if your opponent’s rook is protecting their queen, you can use your bishop or queen to pin the rook. This will prevent the rook from moving without leaving the queen vulnerable.
This gives you control over the file or rank where the pin is happening and makes it harder for your opponent to use the rook effectively.
Pinning with Rooks and Queens
Pins aren’t only for bishops. Rooks and queens can also be used to create powerful pins, especially in the late stages of the game.
In endgames, where fewer pieces remain on the board, rooks and queens can often pin your opponent’s pieces to their king or other valuable pieces, effectively limiting their movement and forcing them into tough positions.
A classic example would be using your rook to pin your opponent’s knight to their king in the endgame.
The knight is now unable to move, giving you the opportunity to use your king or other pieces to attack elsewhere. This can be a game-changing tactic, especially when both sides are running low on material.
The Role of Pins in Endgames
As we get deeper into a game, pins can become even more significant. In endgames, when fewer pieces are left on the board, every move counts even more, and a well-placed pin can be devastating.
Understanding how to use pins in the endgame can help you convert advantages into wins or turn a draw into a victory.
Pinning in Rook Endgames
Rook endgames are very common in chess. In these endgames, one of the most important tactics to look for is the pin.
Since rooks are long-range pieces, they are perfectly suited to creating pins from a distance. Pinning your opponent’s rook or knight in an endgame can often be the key to winning the game.
For example, if your opponent’s rook is protecting their knight, you can use your rook to pin the knight to their king.
Now, the knight is stuck, and you can use your king or pawns to advance while your opponent struggles to free their pieces. This often leads to a decisive advantage, as your opponent won’t be able to activate their pieces efficiently.
Pinning the Last Pieces
As the game nears its conclusion, every piece becomes more valuable. If you can pin one of your opponent’s last remaining pieces to their king, you can often win the game outright.
In some cases, your opponent may be forced to sacrifice material to escape the pin, leading to a winning endgame for you.
Imagine your opponent has a bishop and a king left, while you have a rook. If you manage to pin their bishop to their king with your rook, they will be forced to defend passively or eventually give up the bishop.
This kind of pin can be enough to secure a checkmate or win by capturing the remaining pieces.
How Global School of Chess Can Help You Master Pins
The pin is a simple yet powerful tactic, but using it effectively takes practice. At the Global School of Chess, we offer detailed lessons on tactics like the pin, helping you understand when and how to use it to gain an advantage.
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, our coaches can provide personalized guidance to improve your tactical skills.
In our online lessons, we don’t just teach you the basic concepts—we help you understand how to apply them in real games.
You’ll get hands-on experience with common pinning scenarios, practice exercises to sharpen your skills, and one-on-one feedback from experienced coaches who have helped players of all levels improve their game.
Advanced Pinning Concepts for Stronger Play
Once you’ve mastered the basics of pinning, you can start exploring more advanced ideas that take the tactic to the next level. Pins aren’t always straightforward—sometimes, they are hidden, or they can lead to subtle advantages that might not be obvious at first glance.
Let’s explore how you can elevate your use of pins to outplay more experienced opponents.
Indirect Pins (Invisible Pins)
An indirect pin, also known as an “invisible pin,” occurs when a piece isn’t immediately pinned but will become pinned if it moves.
This subtle form of pin can lead to powerful strategic advantages because your opponent might not realize that one of their pieces is effectively frozen.
For example, imagine your opponent has a knight that looks free to move, but if they move the knight, it will expose their queen to attack from your rook.
While the knight isn’t currently pinned, it’s effectively “invisible pinned” because your opponent knows they will lose material if they move it. By recognizing this indirect pin, you can take advantage of your opponent’s restricted mobility.
Invisible pins often happen in positions where the pieces are aligned but not yet actively attacking each other. Recognizing these situations gives you the chance to build pressure without your opponent realizing they’re already trapped.
The Pin as a Strategic Weapon, Not Just a Tactical One
At first, you might think of the pin purely as a tactical tool for winning material or controlling your opponent’s pieces. However, advanced players use the pin as part of a long-term strategy.
By pinning a key piece, you can restrict your opponent’s options for several moves and gradually improve your position.
For example, you might use a pin to prevent your opponent from castling. If you pin a knight that’s defending their castling square, they’ll be forced to either move the knight and leave the king vulnerable or delay castling altogether.
Over time, this small advantage can lead to greater control over the game, as their king remains exposed in the center of the board.
In these situations, the goal isn’t just to win material quickly but to use the pin to slowly suffocate your opponent’s position, forcing them into passive defense while you gain more space and improve your piece coordination.
The Threat of the Pin
Even if you don’t create a pin, sometimes just threatening to create one is enough to force your opponent into uncomfortable positions. If your opponent sees that a pin is coming, they may waste time moving pieces around to prevent it.
This gives you more control over the tempo of the game and allows you to dictate the flow of play.
For example, if your opponent knows that you’re about to pin their bishop to their rook, they might spend a move trying to avoid it.
In doing so, they may weaken their pawn structure or delay the development of other important pieces. The mere threat of a pin can be a useful tool in your arsenal, even if the pin itself doesn’t materialize.
This psychological aspect of chess is an important part of advanced play. When your opponent is afraid of a tactic, they are more likely to make mistakes, and you can capitalize on their uncertainty.
Threatening pins while preparing other tactics can keep your opponent on the defensive throughout the game.
Avoiding Common Pin Mistakes
While pins can be very effective, there are some common mistakes players make when trying to use them. Being aware of these mistakes will help you avoid them in your own games and make your pinning strategies even more effective.
Overcommitting to a Pin
Sometimes, players become too focused on maintaining a pin and forget about the rest of the board. While a pin can be a powerful weapon, it’s important not to overcommit to it if your opponent finds a way to escape or counter it.
For example, if you’ve pinned a knight to a rook but your opponent starts a strong attack on the opposite side of the board, you might need to abandon the pin to defend. Holding onto the pin for too long could cause you to lose control over other important parts of the game.
Always be flexible in your strategy—if the pin isn’t yielding results or your opponent is gaining elsewhere, be willing to let it go.
Ignoring Counterplay
Another common mistake is ignoring your opponent’s counterplay while focusing too much on the pin. Just because you’ve pinned one of their pieces doesn’t mean they can’t create threats elsewhere.
While you’re trying to win material or gain an advantage from the pin, your opponent might be setting up their own tactics on another part of the board.
Always be aware of your opponent’s threats, even when you’ve established a pin. A well-timed counterattack from your opponent could undermine all the advantages you’ve gained from the pin.
Be sure to check whether their king is safe, their pieces are well-positioned, and they aren’t setting up any forks, skewers, or other tactics in response to your pin.
Missing the Best Moment to Break a Pin
While pins can be devastating, there are times when it’s better to break the pin early rather than holding onto it. This usually happens when your opponent has a chance to break the pin in a way that turns the tables on you.
For instance, imagine you’ve pinned a rook to a queen, but your opponent can break the pin by attacking your pinning piece with a pawn. If you don’t react in time, you might lose the pinning piece and turn the game around in your opponent’s favor.
Always be on the lookout for opportunities to either capitalize on the pin immediately or adjust your position to avoid giving your opponent an easy way out.
Training Pins: How to Practice and Improve
Now that you understand how pins work and how to use them effectively, it’s time to practice. Just like any other skill in chess, getting better at using pins requires consistent practice and analysis.
Here’s how you can train this tactic and incorporate it into your play.
Analyze Games with Pins
A great way to improve your understanding of pins is to study games where they play a central role. Analyze games played by grandmasters where pins were used effectively, and see how they combined the pin with other tactics to win material or create a strategic advantage.
By studying these games, you’ll learn when to look for pins and how to recognize the right moment to strike.
Many famous games in chess history involve dramatic pins that lead to decisive victories. Take the time to study classic examples, and pay close attention to how the players created, maintained, and capitalized on pins in their games.
Practice Pinning Drills
You can improve your ability to spot and execute pins by setting up specific positions on a chessboard and practicing pinning drills.
Start with simple positions where one piece is already pinned and see how you can make the most of the advantage. Then, move on to more complex setups where you have to find the pin yourself.
At Global School of Chess, we offer training positions that focus specifically on pins, helping you practice this important tactic in different scenarios.
Our lessons will guide you through common pinning positions, from simple to advanced, so you can build a solid foundation in using pins.
Play Games with a Focus on Pins
One of the best ways to get better at using pins is to apply them in real games. As you play, make a conscious effort to look for opportunities to pin your opponent’s pieces.
At first, you might miss some chances, but over time, it will become second nature to you.
You can also play training games with a specific focus on practicing pins. In these games, challenge yourself to create at least one pin in every game.
This will train your mind to constantly be aware of opportunities to use pins and help you get better at spotting them quickly.
How to Spot Pin Opportunities in Your Games
Spotting pins during a chess game requires constant awareness of how the pieces are aligned on the board. The key is to look for long-range pieces like the queen, rook, or bishop that can pin your opponent’s pieces along files, ranks, or diagonals.
Whenever you see two of your opponent’s pieces lined up, especially when a more valuable piece (like the king or queen) is behind a less valuable piece (like a knight or pawn), that’s a signal to look for a potential pin.
Sometimes, pins won’t be immediately obvious. They might only appear after a few moves or exchanges. Being patient and keeping an eye on how your opponent’s pieces are positioned can help you anticipate when a pin might be possible.
This awareness will come naturally with practice, and the more games you play with a focus on pins, the quicker you’ll be able to spot opportunities.
The Importance of Timing in Creating a Pin
While pins are powerful, knowing when to apply them is crucial. Creating a pin too early can alert your opponent and give them a chance to defend before the pin becomes truly effective.
Timing the pin when your opponent is vulnerable or when they’re distracted by other threats can make it much more impactful.
For instance, if your opponent is already dealing with an attack on one side of the board, creating a pin on the other side can stretch their defense too thin, forcing mistakes.
Also, if your opponent is low on time in a blitz or rapid game, pins become even more valuable, as they require careful defense that might not be easy to spot under time pressure.
Pin Your Opponent’s Key Defenders
One of the most strategic uses of the pin is to target your opponent’s key defenders. These are the pieces that are responsible for protecting important parts of their position, such as their king or key squares.
If you can pin a defender, it can leave their king or other important pieces more exposed to attack.
For example, pinning a knight that’s defending the castling position can be a great way to prepare for an attack on the king.
Similarly, pinning a bishop that’s defending a critical square near the king can weaken your opponent’s overall defensive structure. Pins like these don’t just win material—they disrupt your opponent’s entire strategy.
Combine the Pin with Other Tactical Ideas
As we discussed earlier, pins work well with other tactics like forks, skewers, and discovered attacks. The best players use these combinations to overwhelm their opponents and make it difficult to defend.
For instance, once a piece is pinned, it becomes easier to target it with a fork or set up a discovered attack from another direction.
When planning your strategy, think about how a pin might lead to additional opportunities. Can you follow up a pin with a fork on another part of the board?
Can you place a piece in a way that creates a discovered attack once the pin is established?
Combining these tactics not only increases your chances of winning material but also forces your opponent to handle multiple threats at once, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.
Wrapping it up
The pin is a fundamental yet powerful tactic that every chess player should master. It restricts your opponent’s pieces, creates weaknesses, and can lead to significant material gains.
Whether you’re applying it in the opening, middlegame, or endgame, the pin can give you a decisive edge by limiting your opponent’s options and setting up other tactics. As you practice, you’ll find more opportunities to incorporate this tactic into your games, leading to stronger positions and better results.
At the Global School of Chess, we can help you deepen your understanding of the pin and other critical chess tactics. With our personalized coaching and structured lessons, you’ll learn not only how to use tactics but also how to integrate them seamlessly into your overall strategy.
Visit Global School of Chess and take your chess skills to the next level today!