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The Chess Pin Attack

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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A Chess Pin attack is one where an attacking piece forces an enemy piece to remain where it is, else risk the loss of a more-valuable piece, directly behind.

Such an attack could be used to either capture the 'Pinned' piece, or prevent the enemy from moving that piece, which may prove a larger threat to your plans.

Pin attacks come in two flavors:

1. Relative, where the attacking piece 'Pins' an enemy piece, which protects any more-valuable piece, except the enemy's King. As such, your opponent may still move the Pinned piece, allowing potential capture of the rear piece.


2. Absolute, where the attacking piece 'Pins' an enemy piece, which protects his King. In such a situation, because a King cannot be placed directly in Check, the front piece is absolutely Pinned where it is.

Pin Attacks are performed by any of the three long-range pieces, be it the:

• Bishop
• Rook
• (or) Queen

Below, you can watch a series of mocked-up Pin Attacks, for each of the three pieces, with both a Relative and Absolute alternative:

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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Fritz 12 (by ChessBase): Copy & Paste Chess Games - in PGN format - directly into Fritz 12 ... Explore the Game and/or Play from any position against Fritz! Don't have Fritz? Learn More | Buy Now!

In this example, White attempts to bring his Knight away from danger, as it's currently being threatened by Black's Bishop, from d7 ...

Unfortunately, White's Knight moves onto a square on the same diagonal as his Rook - a more valuable piece ...

Black spots the opportunity for a Bishop Chess Pin attack and moves said piece forward to b6, which now threatens White's Knight, again ...

White's Knight, although in danger of being captured, is Relatively Pinned on its current square ...

Sure, it could move, but that would result in the loss of the Rook, which doesn't have any protection.

Because of White's careless move, in not spotting the potential hazard of the Pin Attack, the likely outcome is safety for the Rook and the capture of that Knight.

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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Fritz 12 (by ChessBase): Copy & Paste Chess Games - in PGN format - directly into Fritz 12 ... Explore the Game and/or Play from any position against Fritz! Don't have Fritz? Learn More | Buy Now!

In this example, White inexplicably chooses to move the Rook forward, to d2 - moving to f1 would have been more likely ...

Anyhow, the move made, not only puts the Rook onto the same-colour square as Black's Bishop, but also slots it onto a diagonal line with White's King.

Black spots this fatal error and sends his Bishop to f4 ... Now, White's Rook is Absolutely Pinned; it CANNOT move, as it's protecting the King.

Either way, the likely outcome, given the material advantage of Black, White's Rook is toast.

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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Fritz 12 (by ChessBase): Copy & Paste Chess Games - in PGN format - directly into Fritz 12 ... Explore the Game and/or Play from any position against Fritz! Don't have Fritz? Learn More | Buy Now!

In this example, Black moves his Bishop to d4 - don't ask why, it just did, okay ...

Anyway, that rather conveniently allows you to see White's Rook move to d1 and Relatively Pin Black's Bishop on its spot ...

If Black were to move his Bishop away, White's Rook could/would go straight up the board, capture Black's Knight and "Checkmate" Black's poorly-positioned King.

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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Fritz 12 (by ChessBase): Copy & Paste Chess Games - in PGN format - directly into Fritz 12 ... Explore the Game and/or Play from any position against Fritz! Don't have Fritz? Learn More | Buy Now!

In this example, Black attempts to protect his King with his Knight ...

This works well for White, who sees an opportunity for a Rook Chess Pin Attack, from g8 ... Now, Black's Knight is Absolutely Pinned where it is, protecting his King from Check by that Rook.

Because Black will have to move other pieces, White now has time to continue advancing his h-file Pawn to its Promotion square, where it'll probably be exchanged for a Queen.

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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Fritz 12 (by ChessBase): Copy & Paste Chess Games - in PGN format - directly into Fritz 12 ... Explore the Game and/or Play from any position against Fritz! Don't have Fritz? Learn More | Buy Now!

In this example, Black's Knight is moved to c6.

White spots his opportunity for a Chess Pin Attack, with his Queen, which he moves to g2 ...

To avoid losing the more-valuable Rook, on the diagonal behind, Black's Knight is Relatively Pinned on its current square.

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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Fritz 12 (by ChessBase): Copy & Paste Chess Games - in PGN format - directly into Fritz 12 ... Explore the Game and/or Play from any position against Fritz! Don't have Fritz? Learn More | Buy Now!

In this example, Black attempts to protect his King by moving his Rook in front ...

White sees the opportunity for a Queen Chess Pin Attack, from d1 ...

Black cannot move his Rook to safety, as it's protecting his King from Check, so is Absolutely Pinned where it is.

White's next move will be to capture that Rook with the Queen.

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Jump to Chess Pin Attack:

Relative Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

Absolute Pin:
Bishop | Rook | Queen

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From Chess Pin Attack, Back To Chess Tactics Index

<<< Back to the Chess Glossary (Pinned Piece)

<<< Back to the Chess Glossary (Absolute Pin)

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