Chess Tactics: Utilizing the Pin

A pin in chess isn't really categorized as a chess tactic but is considered to be more of a situation that occurs in the game. But we will consider at as one in our discussion A pin occurs when you have one of your pieces threatening an opposing chess piece but it turns out that that chess piece you attacked is unable to move since it covers a piece which is more valuable.

If your opponent moves that piece that gives the cover then the other much more valuable chess piece is thus exposed to immediate attack. This would be an essential piece of tactic when you play chess to win.

To pin, therefore, when we apply this definition is to take advantage of that situation and threaten or attack that covering piece and restricting its movement. Of course, obviously, the only pieces you can use to pin opposing chess pieces are the ones that can move on indefinite number of squares on the board. This brings you the Queen, your Rooks, and your Bishops as the main players for this move.

In which case your King, your Knights, and all your Pawns cannot pin any opposing chess piece. Obviously, the King can't be pinned because it would more likely result in a check and the King would have to move or the player must make other corresponding defensive moves.

There are two types of pins that you can execute. The first type is called an absolute pin while the other type is known as a relative pin. Let's try to differentiate these two types of pins in chess. An absolute pin involves an opposing chess piece and the opposing King. You move your attacker to pin the chess piece shielding the King. It is absolutely illegal to move the shielding piece since it turns into a check on the King.

A relative pin on the other hand is a pin on any shielding piece except that the piece being protected is not a King. So if your opponent does move the pinned chess piece it is perfectly legal in any game of chess.

Now, if you're men are pinned the act of removing that pin in chess is called unpinning. These are replies to pins made by your opponent. You can unpin a pinned chess piece by capturing the threatening piece, use one of your men to cover the pinned piece, or simply move the pinned piece.

Though the pin isn't exactly a chess tactic it can be used during tactical situations when you play chess to win.