Lesson 10

Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin & Skewer!

Part 1: Winning Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin! Concepts:
What is a pin and which pieces can make a pin? The difference between and absolute and relati!e pin! How to win a pinned piece!

Introducing the Pin: What is a Pin, Who Can Make a Pin, and Why re Pins !ood" cuuuuuuuuC When a piece cannot mo!e because it is in the wa" or (wdwdkdqd} blocking a more !aluable teammate from being captured 7dwdwdwdw} b" an enem" piece# that piece is pinned$ The piece that is 6wdndwdwd} appl"ing this pin is known as the pinning piece $ Pins are a 5dBdwdwdw} tactical motif that occurs solel" on the straight lines of the &wdwdwdwd} chessboard % meaning the ranks# files and diagonals$

3dwdwdwgw} 2wdwdwdwd} &ecause #ins can on$y occur on the straight $ines of the %dwdwdw$w} board# onl" three t"pes of pieces can make a pin: The v,./9EFJMV 'ueen# (ooks and &ishops )compare this to a double
The c6-Knight is pinned to the King, and the g3Bishop to the Queen!

attack that can technicall" be carried out b" an" one of the chessmen*$ The &ishop and (ook are both pinning pieces in this position# with two different t"pes of pins taking place:

The Two %inds o& Pins: 'so$ute and (e$ati)e * What+s the ,i&&erence" cuuuuuuuuC The first t"pe of pin taking place is b" the b+,&ishop# to the (wdwdkdqd} c-,.night# to the .ing on e/ is an absolute pin$ 0bsolute 7dwdwdwdw} pins occur onl" when a piece is being pinned to the .ing$ 1t 6wdndwdwd} would be absolutely illegal for the .night to mo!e# which 5dBdwdwdw} makes an absolute pin the strongest kind of pin to ha!e$

&wdwdw8wd} 3dwdwdwgw} 2wdwdwdwd} %dw wdw$w} v,./9EFJMV

A relative pin, like the g3Bishop, can be broken But only or good reason!

The second t"pe of pin from our first diagram is known as a relative pin$ The &ishop on g2 is pinned because it would ne!er consider mo!ing if it meant the 'ueen on g/ would be captured$ 3owe!er# we ha!e added a white .ing on c1 here to displa" that if the g2,&ishop was able to mo!e for something more important than the 'ueen on g/ )in this case# a check to the .ing* than the &ishop could mo!e$

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Lesson 10
!anging -# on the Pinned Piece . 'so$ute/ * The %ey to Winning Pinned Pieces! cuuuuuuuuC 6ow that we understand the different t"pes of pins# let7s talk (wdwdwdwd} about what makes a pin successful. 0 pinned piece is# 7dwdw!"dw} well# pinned! 1t can7t mo!e )especiall" absolutel" pinned 6wdw#wdwd} pieces# and it would be bad to mo!e most relati!el" pinned 5dwdw8wdw} pieces as well*$ 8o don7t e!er take a pinned piece without &w$wd%dwd} first considering how to bring more pieces to attack it$

3dwdw wdw} 2wdwdwdwd} 3ere the &ishop on b9 is pinning the (ook on d-$ White %dwdwdwdw} could easil" capture it and be happ" with that trade $ &ut is v,./9EFJMV there another wa" to gang u# on the #inned (ook" 1$e+!#
!ook to gang up on pinned pieces! attacks the (ook a second time and therefore wins material after 1$$$.e- :$e;d-$ 6ot :$&;d- after :$$$f-# drawing$

!anging -# on the Pinned Piece .(e$ati)e/ * The %ey to Winning Pinned Pieces! cuuuuuuuuC 3ere we ha!e another simple e;ample position designed to (wdw#w#kd} show how eas" it can be to win a pinned piece# if "ou onl" 7d"&w'"&w} gang up on it 'e&ore capturing it$ &ecause the easiest wa" 6"dndw(w&} to make sure "ou &%in the doggy-pile' is to capture with a 5dwd"&wdw} pawn first )because the" are worth the least* % our second &wdw)wd*d} e;ample also sees a pawn doing the gang up work!

3d%dw)+)w} 2%$%d,)B)} <f course "ou can also gang up on pinned pieces with %dwd-d- w} other pieces$ =ou can imagine# and will see in some of the v,./9EFJMV worksheet e;amples# that as long as the piece stays
Black played "###e$!, attacking the pinned 3Knight and %inning it# pinned % e!er"one is welcome to >oin the gang,up,and, attack,the,pinned,piece part"! 3ere black wins a piece!

-sing the Pin gainst 0our 1##onent * The 21ther Way3 to 45#$oit a Pin! cuuuuuuuuC The other ma>or negative point of ha!ing pinned pieces is (wdwdwdw!} that the" can7t really defend their teammates$ ?!en when 7d"&wd"&w} the seemingl" guard things# if and when push comes to 6"dnd"dw&} sho!e# a pinned piece is crippled b" the piece behind it$ 8o# 5dw'wd.d%} besides ganging up on pinned pieces# tr" to see whether or &wdwd*dwd} not the" are guarding an"thing important# and if so# take it!

3d%dwd+dw} 2%$%/w)%d} 1n this e;ample game# white had >ust sacrificed a (ook on %dwdwdw w} h/# forcing the black .ing to a most undesirable s@uare$ v,./9EFJMV White can pla" 1$';h-A!# e;posing the gB,pawn for what it
The b(-Bishop )ay be ar a%ay, but it serves a )ighty purpose here!

reall" is: A pinned piece! 0fter 1$$$.g/ :$';gB is checkmate$ &ecause &ishops and (ooks# and 'ueens operate on long lines# tactics like this occur often in games! Page : of 5

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Lesson 10

Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin & Skewer!

Part :: &reaking the Pin! Concepts:
The proble) with a relati!e pin! Learning to 'reak a pin!

&ecause it isn7t necessarily illegal to mo!e a relatively pinned piece )e!en if it7s pinned to the 'ueen* % one should alwa"s be war" of a pin on the enem" piece turning into a tactic for the opponent$ 0 broken pin instantl" becomes a disco!ered attack )Lesson 11* for the opponent! 6reaking the Pin * The 2Pro'$e73 with a (e$ati)e Pin! cuuuuuuuuC 3ere we see a classic e;ample of a broken relati!e pin (.dw'kgn#} from the 8mith Corra Dambit )an <pening Eariation in the 7&"dw&"&"} 8icilian Fefense*$ 1n this e;ample# black has >ust pla"ed the 6wdn&wdwd} mo!e -$$$&g9?# which is a common blunder$ Though it pins 5dwdwdwdw} the .night on f2# the Bishop lacks protection, and the &wdBd%d*d} results of this are de!astating!

3dw0wd+dw} 2%)wdw)%)} White now pla"s 1$&;fBA!# temporaril" sacrificing the %$w$, wd-} &ishop for a disco!ered check after 1$$$.;fB :$6g+A! :$.e/ and 2$';g9# white wins back the &ishop# remains ahead a ,./9EFJM
*hite to play and %in! pawn# and black has lost the right to castle the King. Lega$+s Mate * The Wor$d+s Most In&a7ous 26roken3 Pin! cuuuuuuuuC 3ere white is in a good position with a small lead in (.dw'kgn#} de!elopment$ Gurthermore# black took big a risk when he 7&"&wd"&"} decided to pin the f2,.night# knowing the &ishop had no 6wdn&wdwd} protection$ Combining the ideas of a discovered attack 5dwdw&wd*} )Lesson 11*# breaking the pin# and targeting black7s &wdBd%dwd} weakest square )Lesson B* % what tactic does white ha!e 3dw0wd+d%} in this posiiton?

2%)%)w)%d} %$w$, wd-} -$6;e+!! wins immediatel" )if -$$$6;e+ B$';h+ 6;c9 /$'b+A# white wins back the material and remains ahead ,./9EFJM
+hilidor,s -pening. "#e$ e/ (#0 3 d6 3#0c3 0c6 $#Bc$ Bg$ /#h3 1 /###Bh/

b" a pawn with a huge lead in de!elopment*: -$$$&;d1 B$&;fBA .eB /$6d+ checkmate! 1t7s amaHing that white can sacrifice such a large amount of material b" breaking the pin on the f2,.night# "et the reward is clearl" worth it$ Page 2 of 5

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Lesson 10

Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin & Skewer!

Part 2: Winning Chess Tactics: Learning to 8kewer! Concepts:
What is a skewer? 8kewering is the opposite of pinning!

Introducing the 2 nti8Pin3: The Skewer! cuuuuuuuuC 0 skewer is the opposite of a pin# and in man" wa"s a (wdwd.dwd} much more 2&orce&u$3 tactic$ With a pin# the lesser !alued 7dwdwdw(w} piece is in front# shielding the more !aluable piece from 6wdqdwdwd} capture$ The piece doesn,t %ant to mo!e because of this# 5dwdwdwdw} but it usuall" takes more attackers to e;ploit and possibl" &Bdwdwdwd} win the pinned piece$

3d%dwdw!w} 2wdwdwdwd} With a skewer# howe!er# the better piece is the one being %dwdwdw$w} attacked and so it must either sacrifice itself or mo!e v,./9EFJMV aside # allowing an undefended or at least !alued
This is not a practical position o course, but it is designed to display the ske%er in action! teammate to be captured$ 1n our diagramed e;ample# the &ishop on a9 is skewering the 'ueen and (ook# which works because the &ishop would be happ" to capture the (ook e!en at the cost of losing itself# while the (ook on g1 is skewering the .ing and .night along the g,file$

More Introductions: The Skewer in ction and Making !ood Things 9a##en! cuuuuuuuuC Like the pin# the skewer is a straight lines tactic )onl" (wd.dw#kd} being possible along ranks# files and diagonals* and so it is 7&*dwd"&w} onl" e;ecuted b" the 'ueen# (ooks and &ishops$ The 6w&wd"dw&} skewer happens most often in open,board positions )like 5'wd1dwdw} our e;ample here* and is most effecti!e when the &wdB)wdwd} opponent7s pieces are loose )undefended*$

3)wd,dwdw} 2-d%dw)%)} 3ere black recogniHed the chance for a skewer tactic due %dwd-dw w} to the awkward position of the white (ook on a:$ &lack v,./9EFJMV pla"ed 1$$$(;c9!# forcing :$';c9 and then :$$$&d+! %
This a)ous ske%er is a co))on tactical pattern skewering the 'ueen and (ook and coming out ahead a minor piece at the end of the combination$

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Lesson 10
The 26ack ,oor3 Skewer * n In&a7ous (ook 4nding Tactic! cuuuuuuuuC Think of a back"ard barbe@ue e!er" time "ou think of a (-dwdwdwd} skewer! 8kewers are used to cut through multiple pieces 7)wdwdkd1} of meat and !egetables for a tast" grilled treat! 0 skewer 6wdwdwdwd} tactic cuts through enemy pieces in a similar fashion$

5dwdwdwdw} &.dwdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwdw wd} %dwdwdwdw} v,./9EFJMV

*hite ske%ers via the &back door' on h2!

<ur ne;t tast" skewer comes at the e;pense of the black .ing and (ook$ This co))on tactical idea occurs as the cli)a3 o )any 4ook ending pu55les# We ha!e >umped to the end of the position to displa" the trick clearl": White pla"s 1$(h/!# freeing the a/,s@uare and threatening to 'ueen the pawn$ 6$ack 7ust ca#ture a: to a!oid this# and white wins with :$(hBA# skewering the .ing and (ook!

More ;a7ous 4ndga7e Skewers * The 2,ou'$e Pro7otion3 <ueen Skewer! cuuuuuuuuC Though the full combination is slightl" more comple;# "ou (1dwdwdwd} ma" recogniHe this tactic from the mo!ie &6earching or 7dwdwdwdw} Bobby 7ischer'$ The end result of this puHHle is right up our 6wdwdwdwd} alle"! &oth sides are going to promote their pawns# but the 5)wdwdwdw} white pla"er gets the upper hand in the end 'y <ueening &wd2dkdwd} with check % instantl" skewering the .ing and 'ueen 3dwdwdwd"} along the longest diagonal of the board# the h1,a/ diagonal!

2wdwdwdwd} %dwdwdwd1} 1$a- h: :$aB h1I'ueen 2$a/I'ueenA black .ing mo!es v,./9EFJMV an"where# 9$';h1# winning! 6ote that the mo!es were all
*henever the King is lined up on the sa)e ile or diagonal as your passed pa%n, watch out

forced because if black tried to a!oid this skewer b" mo!ing the .ing in ad!ance# white7s promoted 'ueen would pre!ent black from doing the same b" guarding h1 along the diagonal$ Watch out for this idea in "our games!

Skewering 2To a S=uare3 (ather Than a Piece * nother Co77on Way to Skewer! cuuuuuuuuC 3opefull" the concept of skewering pieces to other #ieces (.dwdqdkd} has been made clear with our e;amples$ =ou can also 7&*dwdw&"} skewer pieces to important s@uares % such as a threat of 6wdw/"&wd} checkmate! <ur final e;ample re!eals e;actl" that$$$

5$"dwdwdw} &w)wdw)wd} 3dw$wdwdw} 2w)%dwd%)} %dwdwdwd2} v,./9EFJMV

6ke%er pieces to %eaknesses, it %orks!

There ma" be se!eral t"pes of important s@uares worth a skewer# but a back rank checkmate threat has to be right at the top of the list! 3ere black pla"s 1$$$(d/!# skewering the !ueen on d" and the d#$square. White7s 'ueen has no wa" of retreat that successfull" guards the back rank# and must settle on :$'c+ (d1A 2$'g1 (;g1# where black7s material ad!antage is enough to win the game$ Page + of 5

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Lesson 10

Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin & Skewer!

1nstructor7s Duide
Pins are arguabl" the most common tactical theme in the game of chess$ Though the other tactical patterns discussed in this section )Lessons 5 , 1:* all occur with fre@uenc"# a pin often takes place earl" in the game# in man" of the most common openings$ Teaching "our students to recogniHe pins and# most importantl"# the concept of how to e;ploit a pinned piece )learning not to >ust @uickl" trade but instead to gang up on the pinned piece* is critical$ The concept of breaking a pin is a trick" one because "ou don7t want "our students constantl" looking for wa"s to sacrifice their 'ueen for a disco!ered attack b" the .night# "et at the same time "ou want "our students aware that a relati!e pin should not be taken for granted$ <ne perhaps more practical way of breaking a pin )not discussed in detail* is simpl" the idea of going after the enem"7s pinning piece with other forces in "our arm"$ 0ttack a pinning &ishop with a pawn# chase awa" a pinning (ook b" attacking it# etc$ Practica$ >otes and d)ice * Lesson 10: Like the other $essons discussing tactica$ the7es, we reco77end ha)ing your students #oint out e)ery ti7e a #in and?or skewer occurs during their ga7es@ sk the7 to te$$ you whether each is re$ati)e or a'so$ute@ Skewers are easy and &un to teach! Many co7'inations end with a skewer as the &ina$ '$ow to win 7ateria$@ (e&erence Part A o& Lesson B again .the diagra7 that shows the i7#ortance o& considering e)ery 2<ueen ttack3/ to show the students a #osition with 7u$ti#$e skewers that re#eat 'y the (ook and 6isho#@ 47#hasiCe that a chess #$ayer can ne)er so$)e enough tactics! ;ro7 &orks, to skewers, to the u#co7ing $essons on disco)ered attacks and de&$ection tactics * we cou$d ha)e #ro)ided hundreds o& worksheets &or your students to so$)e * with no e&&ort wasted@ 9owe)er, our se$ections are designed to instruct on the 'asic )ersions o& these tactics@ s coaches ourse$)es, we strong$y reco77end ha)ing a decent siCed $i'rary o& tactics 'ooks and #uCC$e8so$)ing e5ercises on hand &or your students to &urther e5#$ore the the7es $isted in our curricu$u7, as we$$ as the 7any other 7ore ad)anced tactica$ #atterns in chess@

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Lesson 10 Lesson 10: Pin +e7 & Skewer +e7!

1n the following diagrams there is a chance for white to either pin or skewer black$ %ircle the piece that can do the tactic# then circle which t"pe of tactic it is beneath each diagram$

cuuuuuuuuC (wdwdkdwd} 7dwdwdwdw} 6wdwdwdwd} 5dwdw'wdw} &wdwdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwdwB3d} %d2d-dwdw} v,./9EFJMV
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

cuuuuuuuuC (wd.dwdkd} 7dwdwd"&"} 6wdwdwdwd} 5dwdwdwdw} &wdw/wdwd} 3dwdwdw'w} 2%)%dwdwd} %d2dwd-dw} ,./9EFJM
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

cuuuuuuuuC (w#wd.dkd} 7&"dwd"&w} 6wd"'w(w&} 5dwd"dwdw} &wdw)wdw$} 3d,)wdwd%} 2%)wdw)%d} %dwd-d- w} v,./9EFJMV
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

cuuuuuuuuC (.d*dkdw#} 7d"&wd"&"} 6"d"dw(wd} 5dwgwdwdw} &wdwdqdwd} 3dwdwd+dw} 2%)%)w)%)} %$+$,d- w} v,./9EFJMV
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

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Lesson 10 Lesson 10: Pin +e7 & Skewer +e7!

1n the following diagrams there is a chance for black to either pin or skewer white$ %ircle the piece that can do the tactic# then circle which t"pe of tactic it is beneath each diagram$

cuuuuuuuuC (wd.dw#kd} 7dwdw'"&"} 6"dw/wdwd} 5d"dw&w)w} &wdwd%dw)} 3dwdwd%d-} 2%)%dwdwd} %d2d-dwdw} ,./9EFJM
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

cuuuuuuuuC (wdwd.dkd} 7&wdwd"d"} 6wdwdwd"d} 5dwdwdqdw} &wdwdwdw)} 3)"d,dwdw} 2w)wdw)%d} %d2d-dwdw} v,./9EFJMV
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

cuuuuuuuuC (wdwdwdq!} 7dwdwdw&w} 6"d"dw&w&} 5)"$wdwdw} &w)wdwdwd} 3dwdwdwdw} 2wdwd2dw/} %dwdwdwdw} v,./9EFJMV
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

cuuuuuuuuC (w#wdwdkd} 7dwdw'"&"} 6,dw&wdwd} 5dwdwd*dw} &wdwdwdwd} 3gw)Bdwdw} 2%)wdw)%)} %d2$wdwd-} v,./9EFJMV
Circle the correct answer: Pin? OR Skewer?

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Lesson 10

Pin +e7 & Skewer +e7!

0nswer .e"
Worksheet Page 1:
,iagra7 D1 * "#4e"! Pinning the black 'ueen to the .ing$ Circle the d1,(ook$ Circle Pin$ ,iagra7 DA * "#Bg3! 8kewering the 'ueen and (ook$ Circle the h9,&ishop$ Circle 8kewer$ ,iagra7 DE * "#4g"! 8kewering the 'ueen and the gB,pawn )threat of the white 'ueen capturing the gB,pawn# checkmate*$ Circle the f1,(ook$ Circle 8kewer$ ,iagra7 DF * "#4e"! Pinning the black 'ueen to the .ing$ Circle the f1,(ook$ Circle Pin$

Worksheet Page ::
,iagra7 D1 * "###4 d8! or "###4cd8! 8kewering the 'ueen and (ook on d1$ Capturing on d1 will also lead to immediate back rank checkmate$ Circle either black (ook$ Circle 8kewer$ ,iagra7 DA * "###Qa(9! 8kewering the .ing and 'ueen$ Circle the 'ueen$ Circle 8kewer$ ,iagra7 DE * "###4d8! 8kewering the 'ueen and the d1,(ook$ Capturing on d1 will also lead to immediate checkmate$ &'()* This tactic also uses a Pin$ White7s d2,'ueen is pinned along the b1,hB diagonal b" black7s 'ueen# which makes 1$$$(d/ possible$ Circle the e/, (ook$ Circle both Pin and 8kewer$ ,iagra7 DF * "#Qe(!! Pinning the d2,&ishop to the white 'ueen on a-$ &'()* This is a double pin tactic$ The d2,&ishop is pinned along two diagonals: The b1,hB diagonal and the f1,a- diagonal$ Circle the black 'ueen$ Circle Pin$

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