1

PINS
introduction

A pin holds a piece in place so that it cannot move without losing something of
greater value or putting its King in check. Some pins are simple, such as the
Rook Pin shown in Diagram 1 . Other pins take two or more moves to set up.

Diagram 1

7 :t:t:t
6

a b c d e f g h

Black to move.

White just played the Rook to e 1 , pinning

the Black Queen to its King. Whatever Black
does, White will capture the Black Queen on
the next move.

Circle the Black piece that is pinned by the White Rook.

2
1 Pins
instruction
Diagram 2
Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack

7 1. Re1 ax e1 + 1. Re1 0-0??

6

5 2. Qxe1+ 2. Rxe4
4

3
This o ne is d o ne fo r yo u .

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win the B lack Queen for a

Rook i n two moves .
U se a R o o k P i n. P l a y Re 1.
p i n n i n g the B l a ck Que e n to the
K i n g o n t h e e fi l e . O n t h e next
move, Wh ite w i l l win t h e B l a c k
Q u ee n .

Wh ite Black Wh ite B lack

8
• • • • • •
7 1. 1.
6

5 2. K moves 2. P Moves +
4

3
Yo u r tu rn n ow !
2

a b c d e f g h

Black to move.

II Win the Wh ite Rook in two

moves . ----
U se a B i s h o p Pi n . P l a y Bd5.
p i n n i n g the Wh ite Roo k on e 4.
B l a c k's next move i s B xe 4
w inn i n g t h e R o o k .

3
1
PINS
instruction

Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack

7 1. ---- Q x b5 1. Bd7
. .--------=-...-·-
----

6
11--r-�
5 2. ---- 2. ----

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win the Black Queen for a

Bishop in two moves.
U s e a B i s h o p Pi n . Play Bb5.
p i n n i n g the B l a ck Q u e e n to t h e
K i n g . On t h e n e x t m ove, Wh ite
w i l l captu re the B l a ck Q u e e n .

Diagram 5
Wh ite Black
8
7 1. R x e4

5 2. Any Move
4

3 3.
2

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

II Win the B lack Kn ig ht in th ree

moves.
P l ay R x e4. If B l a c k plays R x e4.
u se a B i s h o p Pin by p l aying Bd3.
pinn i ng the B l a c k R o o k to its King.
Wh ite can t h e n capt u re t h e Black
Rook on t h e next m ove.

4
1 Pi ns

Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack

8

7 1. • • •
1. • • •

5 2. K moves 2. P moves +

4
3
2

a b c d e f g h
Black to move.

II Win the Wh ite Rook i n two

moves.
• Use a Bishop P i n .

Diagram 7
Wh ite Black

1. ----
Any move

2.

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

II Wi n the B lack Rook i n two

moves .
U se a Q u een P in.

5
1 Pi ns

Diagram 8
Wh ite B lack
8
·�---�
7 1. ----
K moves
6

5 2. ----
It---=�
4
II__...,.....,
3
2

a b c d e I g h
White to move.

II Wi n the Black Knig ht i n two

moves .
U se a Rook Pi n .

Diagram 9
Wh ite B lack

7 1. ---- Bd7
6

5 2. ----

a b c d e I g h

White to move.

II Win the B lack Knight on c6 for

a pawn i n two moves .
U s e a B i s h o p P i n a n d a pawn
atta c k .

6
1 Pins

Diagram 10
Wh ite Black

• • •
7 1.
6

5 2. Bd2
4

a b c d e I g h
Black to move.

II Win the White Queen for a

Bishop in two moves .
U se a B i s h o p P in.

Diagram 11
Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack
8

7 1. • • •
1. • • •

6 J:
5 2. Kf4 2. Kf4
4

+
3 ® 3. P moves 3. K moves
2

a b c d e I g h

Black to move.

II Win the Wh ite Rook in th ree

moves .
Use a B i sh o p Pin . fo ll owed by
an attack on the pmn e d p i ece
by the Ki ng.

7
1 Pi ns

Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack

8

7 1. Q x a8 1. Qf8
6

5 2. 2. +
4

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win the Black Queen for a

Rook in two moves.
U s e a Rook Pin .

Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack

7 Q x e1+ 1. ---- Ne7

6

5 + 2. ----
4

3
Notice that Black threatens checkmate
in one move: Qxh2#.

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

II Win the Black Queen for a

Rook in two moves.
Use a r�ook 1-':;1

8
1 Pi ns

Wh ite Black Wh ite Black

8

7 1. Ke7 1. g4
6

5 2. 2. + K moves
4

3 3.

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win the Black Kn ight in two or

th ree moves .
Ill Use a Q ueen Pin.

Wh ite Black
8

7 1. • • • +
6

5 2.

3 3. Any move
2

a b c d e f g h

Black to move.

II Win the Wh ite Rook in three

moves .
U se a Q u een tra d e. follovved
by a B i s h op Pin 1

9
1 Pi ns

Wh ite Black
8

7 1. a6
6

5 2. Any_ move
4

3 3.

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win the Black Rook in three

moves.
U se a Q u e e n P i n , fo l l owed by
a pawn atta ck.

Diagram 1 7
Wh ite Black

7 1. N x d5 Q x d5??
6

5 2. Q x c4
4

3 3.

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

II Win the d5 pawn and the Black

Queen for a Kn ig ht and
Bishop-if Black plays
U se a K n i g ht s a crifice, fo l l owed
by a B i s h o p Pi n .

.. . Q x d5??

10
1 Pins

Wh ite Black Wh ite Black

8

7 1. c x b4 1. Any other

5 2. 2. Nd 3!
4

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win a pawn on b4 i n two

moves.
U se a te m p o r a ry K n i g ht
sacrifi ce o n b4 . T h e K n ig ht
offe r i s p o s s ible beca u se t h e
p a w n o n c5 i s p i n ned.

White Black Wh ite B lack

7 1. Q x e5? 1. 0-0!
6

5 2. Q x e1? 2. d4!
4

3 3. +

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

II Wi n the Black Queen and a

pawn for a Knig ht and Rook i n
th ree moves, or win t h e pawn
U s e a K n ig h t s a c rifice on e5.
fo l l owed by a R o o k P i n .

on e5 in one move .

11
1 Pi ns

White Black

7 1. a6!
6

5 2. +

3 3.

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

IJ!II!III Win a Knight on c6 in three U se a B i s h o p P i n a n d a Paw n

-moves. atta c k .

Diagram 21
White Black

7 1. Kg7
6

5 2. Any move
4

3 3.

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

IJ!II!III Win the Black Knight in three Atta ck t h e p i n n ed K ntg h t two

-moves. m o re times. Beg i n w i th Q h41.

12
1 Pins

White Black White Black

8

7 1. e5 1. Qxc3?

5 2. 2. + K moves
4

3 3.
2

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win the Black Queen for a

Rook in two moves-or win the
II Attack the pinned Black Queen
with the White Rook.
Black Rook in three moves if Remember: Attack pinned
... Qxc3? pieces.

White Black
8
• • •
7 1.

5 2. Kc2

3 3. Any move

a b c d e f g h

Black to move.

II Win the White Rook for a pawn

in three moves.
U s e a Q u een Pin, followed by
a pawn atta ck a g a i n st t h e
Wh ite Rook. ( ... Qe4 does not
work because it allows Wh ite
to play Qe3.)

13
1 Pi ns

White Black White Black

7 1. Qf6 1. ---- dxe6??

11"'""'"'"""-=-
6
11-.....r-'""""",.;.__;.,·---.o
+
5 2. 2. ____ +_
4

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

Win a pawn and the Black U se a B i s h o p sacrifi ce, p i n n i n g

Rook on f7 for a Bishop in two the B l ack Roo k to its K i n g ­
moves, or win a pawn and the fo l l owed b y capt u r i n g t h e Rook
Black Queen for a Bishop in o r the Q u e e n ( if B l a c k p l ays
two moves. . . . d x e6??).

Diagram 25
White Black

7 1. Nxf5?

5 2. Any move

3 3.
2

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

II Win a Black Knight on f5 in

three moves.
C a ptu re t h e B i s h o p o n f5,
fo l l owed by a Rook Pi n .

14
1 Pins

Diagram 26
Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack

7 1. Q x e4?? 1. Q x e4??
6

5 2. Q x e1 + 2. Nf6?
4

3 3. + 3. +

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Wi n the Black Q ueen for a

Rook and a pawn i n three
moves-if Black's fi rst move
White's fi rst m ove g u a rd s the
p a w n s on g 2 an d e4, by th reat
of a Rook P i n . B l ack b l u n ders
is .. . Q x e4?? a n d c a p t u res t h e e4 p a w n '

Wh ite Black
8
7 1. • • •

5 2.

3 3. Q x b7
2

a b c d e f g h

Black to move.

II Wi n the Wh ite Rook for a

Bishop i n th ree moves.
U se a Q u e e n s a crifi ce.
fol l owed by a B i shop P i n .
wi n n i ng ba ck t h e Q u e e n

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1 Pins

Wh ite Black
8
I I-=::..��
7
·-- ----
1. ____
+ Kg7/Kg8 The slash (f) is used to show that
either of two moves is possible.
6
l l-....-
.t-�
5 2. + Kh8
1.... ...,.
...-� ��.... -==-

4
ll--........--
.. �....--o�
3 3. #
11--L-����!ill.
2

a b c d e g h
White to move.

II C heckmate i n th ree moves . U se a Q u e e n c h eck-p o s s i b le

beca u se B l a c k's g -p a w n is
p i n ned. Th e n. ca ptu re t h e
g-pawn with c h e ck. fo l l owed
by m ate from the Queen.

Wh ite Black
8
7 1. + K x h7
6

5 2. #
4

3
2

a b c d e g h

White to move.

II C heckmate i n two moves . U s e a Queen sacrifice check.

followed by a Rook checkmate.
Mate is possible because
Black's g-pawn IS p1nned

16
1 Pins

Diagram 30
Wh ite B lack
8

7 1. __
+ __
Kxd8
6

5 2. ----

a b c d e f g h
White to move.

II Win the Black Queen for

a Rook i n two moves. II U se a R o o k s a crifice c h eck
(Rd 8 + ) . Th e n , captu re the
B la c k Quee n . Wi n n i n g the
Queen i s poss i b l e because
the B l ack K n i g ht is p i n ned .

Diagram 31
Wh ite B lack Wh ite B lack
8

7 1. N x c4 1. Ne7

5 2. 2. N bc8
4

3 3.
2

a b c d e f g h

White to move.

II Win a Knig ht or Bishop on the

"d" file for a pawn i n two or
three moves .
II U se a p a w n attack a n d Rook
Pin .

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