1.

[The pin is seen much more often than the skewer, because weaker pieces tend to be more exposed. Whenever you notice two or more of your pieces lined up on a rank, file, or diagonal, you should be looking for pins and for skewers.

  The essential power of this weapon is that it temporarily paralyzes a piece, renders it immobile. For example, in this position, the black knight is defending the black rook, but it is also pinned to the black queen by the white bishop. So after rook takes E4, black can't re-capture without losing a queen.

Remember, only long distance operators can pin, so the queen, rook, and bishop are who we have to rely on.

{B:64}{P:BQd8}{D:2000}{P:BNf6}{D:3000}{P:WBg5}{D:4000}{P:BRe4}{D:2000}{B:3q4/8/5n2/6B1/4r3/8/8/4R3}{D:8500}{A:Nf6e4}{D:1000}{A:Cg5f6}{A:Df6d8}{D:3000}{A:Ce1e4}{D:2000}{R}{S:e1e4}{D:1000}{S:f6e4}{D:500}{S:g5d8}{D:2500}{B:64}{P:WQd1}{D:1000}{P:WRa1}{P:WRh1}{D:500}{P:WBc1}{P:WBf1}{W:268a}{W:268b}{W:268c}

]

2.

[

{B:6k1/7q/1N6/8/8/4K3/8/8 b}{V:{SAVE}How can black use a pin to win the white knight?{W:269a};

$Queen A7. The knight cannot move or be defended, and next it will be captured.

  {S:h7a7}{A:Ca7b6}{A:Db6e3}{D:3000}{R}{S:e3e4}

  {D:1000}{S:a7b6}{W:269b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$h7a7;Very good! Queen A7. The knight cannot move or be defended, and next it will be captured.

  {A:Ca7b6}{A:Db6e3}{D:3000}{R}{S:e3e4}{D:1000}{S:a7b6}

  {W:verygood}{W:269b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Not quite right.{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

h7h6:$c Yes, that's also a great move, and it wins the white knight, but it's a fork. Let's find the pin. {W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Remember, a pin is created when you attack a piece of lower value that is blocking the path to a piece of higher value.}

]

3.

[

{B:r2q1r1k/1p4pp/2p2n2/8/4P2B/7Q/1P4PP/2R2R1K w}{V:{SAVE}Here it's white to move. Do you notice any pins in the position? Well, the white bishop on H4, pins the black knight on F6. Now, how do we take advantage of that?{D:5500}{A:Ch4f6}{A:Df6d8}{D:4000}{R}{W:271a};

$Here we use the critical idea: attacking the pinned piece. E5 piles up on the paralyzed knight and black is helpless to defend. Next move, E takes F6 will win a knight for a pawn. Now, if it had been black's move here, he should get the queen out of the pin. Move black queen C7. Liberate the knight.

  {R}{S:e4e5}{A:Ce5f6}{D:5000}{A:Ch4f6}{A:Df6d8}{D:3000}{R}{G:WPe5}{S:e5f6}

  {D:1000}{G:BPg7}{S:g7f6}{D:3000}{S:f6g7}{G:WPf6}{S:f6e5}{P:BNf6}

  {D:500}{G:WPe5}{S:e5e4}{D:2800}{G:BQd8}{S:d8c7}{W:271b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$e4e5;Well done! WellHere we use the critical idea: attacking the pinned piece. E5 piles up on the paralyzed knight and black is helpless to defend. Next move, E takes F6 will win a knight for a pawn. Now, if it had been black's move here, he should get the queen out of the pin. Move black queen C7. Liberate the knight.

  {R}{A:Ce5f6}{D:5000}{A:Ch4f6}{A:Df6d8}{D:3000}{R}{G:WPe5}{S:e5f6}

  {D:1000}{G:BPg7}{S:g7f6}{D:3000}{S:f6g7}{G:WPf6}{S:f6e5}{P:BNf6}{D:500}

  {G:WPe5}{S:e5e4}{D:2800}{G:BQd8}{S:d8c7}{W:welldone}{W:271b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$cThat's not quite it.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

The primary method for making pins turn decisive is to attack the pinned piece.}

]

4.

[

{B:1r4k1/6pn/8/P2n4/8/7N/6P1/R4BK1}{V:{SAVE}It's white to move here. Use the theme of attacking the pinned piece. Try to calculate both your best moves, and black's best defensive tries.{W:272a};

${S:f1c4}{J}

$f1c4;Very good!{W:verygood}{W:sil1000}{J};

$cThat's not quite right.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Did you see a way to pin a piece and then attack it?}

]

5.

[Bishop C4, attacking the knight on D5 and pinning it to the king on G8. Black has to defend with knight F6. What's white's best move now?

{B:1r4k1/6pn/8/P2n4/2B5/7N/6P1/R5K1}{A:Cc4d5}{A:Dd5g8}{H:d5}{D:5000}{S:h7f6}{A:Gf6d5}{W:272b}{V:{SAVE}Bishop C4, attacking the knight on D5 and pinning it to the king on G8. Black has to defend with knight F6. What's white's best move now?;

$Knight F4, piling up on the pinned piece. Black has to defend again, and he can with rook D8. Now the black D5 knight is attacked by two pieces and defended by two pieces, but white can add more pressure. What's white's best move?

  {S:h3f4}{J}

$h3f4;Well done!{W:welldone}{J};

$c Incorrect. Remember, the theme here is to attack a pinned piece.

  {W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

a1d1:$c OK, so you attack d5, but there's another piece I was thinking about... Find the other piece who can attack d5!

What was the piece you just pinned? Can you attack it again?{W:theresbetter}{RETRY}}

]

6.

[Knight F4, piling up on the pinned piece. Black has to defend again, and he can with rook D8. Now the black D5 knight is attacked by two pieces and defended by two pieces, but white can add more pressure. What's white's best move?

{B:1r4k1/6p1/5n2/P2n4/2B2N2/8/6P1/R5K1 w}{A:Cf4d5}{D:4000}{S:b8d8}{A:Gd8d5}{D:4000}{A:Cc4d5}{A:Gf6d5}{W:272d}{V:{SAVE}Knight F4, piling up on the pinned piece. Black has to defend again, and he can with rook D8. Now the black D5 knight is attacked by two pieces and defended by two pieces, but white can add more pressure. What's white's best move?;

$Rook D1. Now the black D5 knight is dead. There are three attackers and only two defenders. Black's going to lose a piece.

  {S:a1d1}{B:3r2k1/6p1/5n2/P2n4/2B2N2/8/6P1/3R2K1}{A:Cc4d5}{A:Cf4d5}

  {A:Dd5g8}{A:Cd1d5}{A:Gd8d5}{A:Gf6d5}{W:272e}{W:sil1000}{J}

$a1d1;Yep, that's it! Rook D1. Now the black D5 knight is dead. There are three attackers and only two defenders. Black's going to lose a piece.

  {W:yepthatsit}{B:3r2k1/6p1/5n2/P2n4/2B2N2/8/6P1/3R2K1}{A:Cc4d5}{A:Cf4d5}

  {A:Dd5g8}{A:Cd1d5}{A:Gd8d5}{A:Gf6d5}{D:4000}{R}{W:272e}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Remember, the theme here is to attack a pinned piece.

  {R}{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Come on, it should be easy. Can you attack the pinned piece again?}

]

7.

[Before we get to this next exercise, I want to emphasize, once again, the importance of avoiding mechanical thinking in chess. If you just assume, for example, that a pinned piece can't move, then you're asking for trouble. Take a look at this position.

{B:64}{D:1000}{P:BQd8}{D:2000}{P:BNf6}{D:2000}{P:WBg5}{D:2000}{P:BRf8}{D:2000}{P:WPe5}{W:273a}{B:3q1r1k/6pp/5n2/4P1B1/8/8/2Q3PK/R7 b}{V:{SAVE}Here it's black's move. Your knight is pinned down to the queen by the bishop on G5, and white has just attacked the pinned knight with E5, but it turns out that white is the one who loses a piece. Why? Black to move. Think creatively here.

  {D:2000}{A:Cg5f6}{A:Df6d8}{W:273b};

$Knight G4 check, gets out of the pin with tempo. White has to respond to the check, and after the white king gets out of the way, we notice that the black queen has opened up an attack on the white bishop. This called "a discovered attack", and it's another very important tactical device which we'll discuss a little later, but this isn't the only way to get out of a pin at the last minute. 

Check out the next exercise.

  {R}{S:f6g4}{A:Cg4h2}{A:Cd8g5}{D:4000}{R}{G:WKh2}{S:h2g1}{D:2500}

  {G:BQd8}{S:d8g5}{W:273c}{W:sil1000}{J}

$f6g4;Good move! Knight G4 check, gets out of the pin with tempo. White has to respond to the check, and after the white king gets out of the way, we notice that the black queen has opened up an attack on the white bishop. This called "a discovered attack", and it's another very important tactical device which we'll discuss a little later, but this isn't the only way to get out of a pin at the last minute.

Check out the next exercise.

  {R}{A:Cg4h2}{A:Cd8g5}{D:4000}{R}{G:WKh2}{S:h2g1}{D:2500}{A:Cd8g5}

  {D:2000}{R}{G:BQd8}{S:d8g5}{W:goodmove}{W:273c}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. There is a way to get out of pin and take one of white's pieces.

  {R}{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

Think offensively - consider all of your offensive options.}

]

8.

[

{B:2r2q1k/6pp/8/b1p5/1N6/7P/2P3P1/3QR2K}{V:{SAVE}White looks like he's in trouble here, because the knight on B4 is pinned and attacked by both pawn and bishop. There is no way to defend it sufficiently and there is no way to move it away with tempo, but white can save himself. Do you see how?{D:2500}{A:Ca5b4}{A:Cc5b4}{A:Db4e1}{W:274a};

$Rook F1 attacks the black queen and liberates the knight from the pin. If black were to take the knight, bishop takes B4, then after rook takes F8, rook takes F8, white has won material, the equivalent of one pawn, because a queen is worth nine pawns, a rook is worth five pawns, and a knight is worth three pawns. So rook five plus knight three equals eight. Nine against eight. So after rook F1, the black queen should move, say queen E7, and after knight D5, the game goes on. White hasn't lost material.  

{R}{S:e1f1}{D:1000}{A:Cf1f8}{D:5000}{R}{S:a5b4}{D:1000}{S:f1f8}{D:1000}{S:c8f8}

{D:13000}{B:2r2q1k/6pp/8/b1p5/1N6/7P/2P3P1/3QR2K}{S:e1f1}

{D:3000}{S:f8e7}{D:1000}{S:b4d5}{W:274b2}{W:sil1000}{J}

$e1f1;Very good! Rook F1 attacks the black queen and liberates the knight from the pin. If black were to take the knight, bishop takes B4, then after rook takes F8, rook takes F8, white has won material, the equivalent of one pawn, because a queen is worth nine pawns, a rook is worth five pawns, and a knight is worth three pawns. So rook five plus knight three equals eight. Nine against eight. So after rook F1, the black queen should move, say queen E7, and after knight D5, the game goes on. White hasn't lost material.

  {R}{D:1000}{A:Cf1f8}{D:5000}{R}{S:a5b4}{D:1000}{S:f1f8}{D:1000}{S:c8f8}

  {D:13000}{B:2r2q1k/6pp/8/b1p5/1N6/7P/2P3P1/3QR2K}{S:e1f1}

  {D:3000}{S:f8e7}{D:1000}{S:b4d5}{W:verygood}{W:274b2}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. There is one way white to save himself, but that is not it.

  {R}{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

Think offensively. Can you attack any pieces by un-pinning a piece?}

]

9.

[

{B:q6k/3r2p1/p2n3p/2B4Q/8/1P5P/3R2P1/7K b}{V:{SAVE}Here black's D6 knight is pinned, and white's last move is bishop C5, piling up on the pinned piece. What do you think about this position? Black to move.{D:500}{A:Cd2d6}{A:Dd6d7}{D:3000}{A:Cc5d6}{W:276a};

$Knight E4, and suddenly white's position is falling apart. White's bishop, rook, and queen are all under fire. Do you see how the queen is attacked? That's right. Knight G3 check. Forking king and queen is in the air. This is one of those moments in chess when you're caught juggling too many balls, and you just can't keep everything straight.

So remember, when we're pinning the opponent, don't blindly trust in the solidity of the pin. Part of the beauty of chess is in its flow and quality. Often the ground once solid beneath our feet becomes loose and shifting. We have to keep a flexibility of mind which allows us to flow with the ever changing conditions.

{R}{S:d6e4}{D:4500}{H:c5}{D:500}{H:d2}{D:400}{H:h5}{D:4000}{H:g3}{A:Te4g3}{D:1000}{G:BNg3}{A:Cg3h5}{A:Cg3h1}{D:6000}{R}{D:2000}{O}{D:2000}{H0:g3}{D:500}{H0:h5}{D:500}{H0:d2}{D:500}{H0:c5}{D:4000}{S:e4d6}{W:276b}{W:277}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d6e4;Good job! Knight E4, and suddenly white's position is falling apart. White's bishop, rook, and queen are all under fire. Do you see how the queen is attacked? That's right. Knight G3 check. Forking king and queen is in the air. This is one of those moments in chess when you're caught juggling too many balls, and you just can't keep everything straight. 

So remember, when we're pinning the opponent, don't blindly trust in the solidity of the pin. Part of the beauty of chess is in its flow and quality. Often the ground once solid beneath our feet becomes loose and shifting. We have to keep a flexibility of mind which allows us to flow with the ever changing conditions.

{R}{D:4500}{H:c5}{D:500}{H:d2}{D:400}{H:h5}{D:4000}{H:g3}{A:Te4g3}{D:1000}{G:BNg3}{A:Cg3h5}{A:Cg3h1}{D:6000}{R}{D:2000}{O}{D:2000}{H0:g3}{D:500}{H0:h5}{D:500}{H0:d2}{D:500}{H0:c5}{D:4000}{S:e4d6}{W:goodjob}{W:276b}{W:277}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Sorry, that's not it.{R}{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Well, it turns out this is another case where black can escape the pin with a powerful blow of his own. Think back to some of the weapons we have already discussed.}

]

10.

[

{B:2r3k1/b1q2pp1/7p/1r2n3/8/1N6/PQ1B1PP1/2R2RK1 b}{V:{SAVE}Before moving on, let's look at one more powerful pin. It turns out that in this position, black can use a critical pin to force mate in three moves. This one may be a little tough to spot, so take your time and see if you can get it. The theme is "the paralyzed defender". {W:278a2};

$Knight F3 check, a really powerful move. Of course, if king H1, then queen H2, and rook H5 are both check mate. So white has to play G takes F3. It's forced.   {S:e5f3}{D:4000}{S:g1h1}{D:1500}{A:Nc7h2}{G:BQh2}{D:1000}{A:Nb5h5}{G:BRh5}

  {D:3000}{R}{O}{S:h1g1}{D:500}{S:g2f3}{D:1000}{W:278b}{W:sil1000}{J}

$e5f3;Very good! Knight F3 check, a really powerful move. Of course, if king H1, then queen H2, and rook H5 are both check mate. So white has to play G takes F3. It's forced. 

{D:4000}{S:g1h1}{D:1500}{A:Nc7h2}{G:BQh2}{D:1000}{A:Nb5h5}{G:BRh5}

{D:3000}{R}{O}{S:h1g1}{D:500}{S:g2f3}{D:1000}{W:verygood}{W:278b}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. By moving here, you cannot mate in a total of three moves.

  {W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

e5d3:$cNo, that's not the best move. {S:c1c7}{W:notbest}{RETRY};

Notice that the black queen is attacked.

This should be a hint that the solution lies 

in forcing moves! 

FIND ALL THE PINS IN THE POSITION!

}

]

11.

[The paralyzed defender is the white pawn on F2, which is pinned to the king by the black bishop on A7. Remember, whenever a piece is pinned to the king, it really can't move at all.

{B:2r3k1/b1q2pp1/7p/1r6/8/1N3P2/PQ1B1P2/2R2RK1 b}{D:2000}{H:f2}{D:2000}{H:a7}{D:1000}{A:Ca7f2}{A:Df2g1}{W:278d}{V:{SAVE}Now find mate in two. Look for the pin.{W:278c};

${J}

$c7g3;Good job!

  {W:goodjob}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. There is one best move that black can make.

  {W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

The piece to move is under attack.}

]

12.

[Queen G3 check is the hidden weapon. The pawn can't help defend the king because of the pin. White has to play king H1. What's the best move for black now?

{B:2r3k1/b4pp1/7p/1r6/8/1N3Pq1/PQ1B1P2/2R2RK1 b}{D:4000}{S:g1h1}{D:1000}{W:278e}{V:{SAVE}Queen G3 check is the hidden weapon. The pawn can't help defend the king because of the pin. White has to play king H1. What's the best move for black now?;

$Rook H5 mate. This last position was an example of the type of combination you really will see in serious chess games. Black had to sacrifice a knight to set up a very, very difficult pin to spot, to win the game by force. 

Once again, I want you to notice the perils of thinking mechanically in chess. I believe this lesson holds true in life as well. It's easy to assume that certain elements of a situation will remain stable, but we have to stay present to the moment, for all its evolving subtleties. More technically, returning to chess, people have the habit of assuming that pawns around the king are a fortress, but there are ways to slip through walls in chess. You just saw one of them. 

  {S:b5h5}{A:Ch5h1}{D:6000}{R}{D:5000}{H:f2}{D:4000}{S:h5b5}{D:2000}{S:h1g1}

  {D:2000}{S:g3c7}{D:2000}{S:f3g2}{P:BNf3}{D:2000}{S:f3e5}

  {D:8000}{H:g2}{W:278f}{W:279}{W:280a}

$b5h5;Good move! Rook H5 mate. This last position was an example of the type of combination you really will see in serious chess games. Black had to sacrifice a knight to set up a very, very difficult pin to spot, to win the game by force. 

Once again, I want you to notice the perils of thinking mechanically in chess. I believe this lesson holds true in life as well. It's easy to assume that certain elements of a situation will remain stable, but we have to stay present to the moment, for all its evolving subtleties. More technically, returning to chess, people have the habit of assuming that pawns around the king are a fortress, but there are ways to slip through walls in chess. You just saw one of them.   {A:Ch5h1}{D:6000}{R}{D:5000}{H:f2}{D:4000}{S:h5b5}{D:2000}{S:h1g1}

  {D:2000}{S:g3c7}{D:2000}{S:f3g2}{P:BNf3}{D:2000}{S:f3e5}{D:8000}{H:g2}

  {W:goodmove}{W:278f}{W:279}{W:280a};

$c Incorrect. Look carefully.{W:notquiteit2}{RETRY};

It's mate in one.}

]

