Exercise 4.1Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...d5?. Find the move that punishes it.
4
Tactics Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
The Pin
A piece that cannot move
In this lesson you will learn
- Absolute and relative pins
- How to win a pinned piece by attacking it again
- When a pinned piece is not really pinned
- The Elephant Trap
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
4.1 Absolute and Relative Pins
A pin happens when a bishop, rook or queen attacks a piece that cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it. If the piece behind is the king, the pin is absolute: the pinned piece is not allowed to move at all. If the piece behind is a queen or rook, the pin is relative: the pinned piece may move, but material is lost.
Diagram 4.1White to move
Example 4.1 · Attack the pinned piece
White's bishop on b5 pins the knight on c6 to the king on e8. The knight is not allowed to move.
1.d5! attacks the pinned knight with a pawn. The knight cannot escape, and White wins it. The rule: attack a pinned piece again, preferably with a pawn.
Diagram 4.2Black to move
Example 4.2 · The Elephant Trap
White thinks the knight on f6 is pinned to the queen and grabs the d5-pawn.
The pin was only relative! 6...♘xd5! gives up the queen, but after 7.♗xd8 ♗b4+ 8.♕d2 ♗xd2+ 9.♔xd2 ♔xd8 Black has won a piece. Always check whether a 'pinned' piece can move with a stronger threat of its own.
TipAgainst a pin, you can break it (move the piece behind), block it, or counterattack. The worst reaction is to ignore it.
Remember
- Absolute pin: the piece behind is the king.
- Relative pin: the piece behind is a queen or rook.
- Attack the pinned piece again, ideally with a pawn.
- A relatively pinned piece can still move — beware of traps.
Exercises · Lesson 4
Every exercise comes from real opening play and has been checked with a chess engine. Find the strongest move and play it on the board.
Exercise 4.2Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 15.f5?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.3Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...♘g4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.4Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.♗b5?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.5Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♘d7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.6Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 5.♕d2?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.7Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♖b8?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.8Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♘xe4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.9Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 5.♕c3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.10Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♘d7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.11Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.♕c3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.12Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♕c6?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.13Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 8.♕c3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.14Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 12.♕xf3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 4.15Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 5...♗f5?. Find the move that punishes it.