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Intermediate · 3/20
Pins and skewers
Exploit pieces lined up on the same file, rank or diagonal.
Learn this chess concept step by step, then practise it on the interactive ChessRivo board.
Open interactive lessonAbout this lesson
Pins restrict movement; skewers attack the more valuable piece first and win what stands behind it.
Key ideas
- Absolute pins involve the king and cannot legally be broken.
- Relative pins can sometimes be broken if the tactical cost is acceptable.
- Skewers often begin with a forcing attack on a king or queen.
Coach tip: Whenever pieces line up, inspect the line for a tactical shot.
Test yourself
What makes an absolute pin special?
- Moving the pinned piece would expose the king
- It always wins a queen
- It only works with knights
Show answer
Correct answer: Moving the pinned piece would expose the king
Practise this lesson interactively
Open the ChessRivo Academy board exercise for this exact lesson. Your progress is saved when you are signed in.
Open interactive lessonHow to use this lesson in a real game
Turn the idea into a repeatable decision process.
- Before moving, name the position feature this lesson is about.
- Find one candidate move that follows the lesson idea and one alternative.
- After the game, return to the critical position and compare your choice with the lesson.