The Pin: Immobilizing the Opponent
A pin is a fundamental chess tactic where a piece is held in place because moving it would expose a more valuable piece (like the King or Queen) behind it. This guide explains the difference between absolute and relative pins, teaching you how to use this paralyzing motif to win material and restrict your opponent.
Simple Pin Prelude (The Classic Pattern)
A Pin happens when a piece cannot move because doing so would expose a more valuable piece behind it — usually the King.
Basic Absolute Pin
Textbook Pattern- Absolute Pin: The piece is pinned to the King. It is legally impossible to move it.
- Relative Pin: The piece is pinned to a high-value target (like the Queen). Moving is legal, but usually disastrous.
- Partial Pin: A piece (like a Queen or Rook) is pinned but can still move along the line of the pin.
- "Working the Pin": A golden rule of tactics. If a piece is pinned and cannot move, attack it with more pieces (especially Pawns) to win it!
Examples with Pins
The examples in this section show how pins restrict a piece by tying it to a more valuable target behind it, such as the king or queen. By studying these positions, you’ll learn how pins limit mobility, create tactical pressure, and often force concessions even without immediate captures. Strong players use pins not just to win material, but to control key squares and dictate the flow of the position.
1. Ineffectual pin (...Bh4)
Repkova, E vs Vlkovic, P{black resigned} Ke7 (1...g6 2.Bxg6+ Ke7 3.Qxh4#) 2.Qxh4+ g5 3.Qxg5 mate
2. Nasty pin
Genov vs Pap1-0 (1..,Bxe5 or 1...,Rb7 2. Qf8++)
3. Power of the pin
Dotshev vs SpasovRxf7 2. Rxc8+, Bd8 3. Rxd8++
4. Lobron-Lutz, Germany 1998
Lobron vs LutzQxb3 {The obvious alternative is dumping Queen and Rook with mate to follow in a total of five moves.} 2. Qg6+ Kh8 3. Qxe8+
5. One-move finish
Oren vs Dyner{Nb6 decoys the queen to the b6 square, so as to introduce a pin, when White later plays Qd4+.}
6. The illusory pin
Silakov vs Blekhtsin2. bxc4 Nd4 3. Bxc5 Re1+ 4. Kg2 Rg1+ 0-1
7. Szabo-Donner, Goteborg 1955
Szabo vs Donner{A vicious fork that leaves Black only one legal move.} hxg6 2. Qh6+!! {The Bishop is pinned on g7, it cannot capture the Queen.}
8. The Immortal Absolute Pin
Nimzovitsch vs RubinsteinThreatening Qxh6#. Black cannot capture the Queen (fxg6) because the g7 pawn is in an Absolute Pin to the King by the Bishop on e5.
9. Working the Pin
Nimzovitsch vs NielsenA classic example of "Working the Pin". The Bishop on d6 is pinned to the Queen. White attacks it again with the Rook, and Black is helpless.
10. The Petroff Trap
Opening TrapA deadly opening pin. The Black Knight on e4 is pinned to the King. If Black retreats (1...Nf6??), 2. Nc6+ wins the Queen via Discovered Attack.
11. Crushing the Pin
Euwe vs. NestlerBlack resigned. The Rook on g7 is pinned by the White Queen. If Black captures 1...fxg5, then 2. Qh8+ leads to forced mate.