Tactics theme
Chess pins
A pin turns a piece into a passenger. Learn when it’s absolute, when it’s relative, and when you should pile attackers instead of capturing immediately.
The idea in one minute
Line pieces (bishop, rook, queen) pin when a unit sits in front of something more valuable. Absolute pins against the king are forced; relative pins are choices under pressure.
Practical plans
When you have a pin:
- Add attackers before you cash out
- Don’t assume the pinned piece can never move — verify checks
- As the defender: break the pin with interposition, trade, or king step
Who it suits
Players learning open-game tactics and classical development.