Pins: freezing a piece in place
A pin happens when a piece can't move without exposing something more valuable behind it. Only line pieces — bishops, rooks and queens — can pin.
Absolute and relative pins
If the piece behind is the king, the pin is absolute: moving the pinned piece is illegal. If it's anything else, the pin is relative — legal to break, but usually costly.
Exploiting a pin
- Pile up. Attack the pinned piece again — it can't run, so it often can't be defended enough.
- Attack with a pawn. A pawn hitting a pinned piece is a classic way to win material.
- Remember it doesn't defend. An absolutely pinned piece isn't really guarding anything; look for captures on the squares it "covers".
Getting out of a pin
Break it by interposing, moving the piece behind, or counter-attacking the pinner — ideally with tempo.