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Pins

Freeze a piece in front of its king, then win it.

Beginner · Tactics · 20 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine. With games of Divya Deshmukh, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, Vaishali R, Magnus Carlsen, Bobby Fischer.

Step 1

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The position

A pin attacks a piece that cannot move away, because a more valuable piece, often the king, stands behind it on the same line. Only bishops, rooks and queens can pin, because they attack along lines.

Step 2

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The position

A pinned piece is stuck. Attack it again, with a pawn if you can, and it falls.

Step 3

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The position

Divya Deshmukh vs Bardiya Daneshvar, 25th Abu Dhabi Masters 2018. Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur won the FIDE Women's World Cup in 2025, at 19, and became a grandmaster. Divya Deshmukh plays White here. Look at the rook on a1: what can it do?

Step 4

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The position before the moves

Moves: 36.Ra8

Divya Deshmukh brings the rook to a8, and now a piece is pinned to its king. It pins the bishop on d8.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Bardiya Daneshvar, 25th Abu Dhabi Masters 2018.

Step 5

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The position before the moves

Moves: 36.Ra8 Kf8 37.Rxd8+ Ke7 38.Rc8 Ne4 39.Rc7+

The moves: 36.Ra8 Kf8 37.Rxd8+ Ke7 38.Rc8 Ne4 39.Rc7+. At the end of the line, Divya Deshmukh has won the bishop. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Bardiya Daneshvar, 25th Abu Dhabi Masters 2018.

Step 6

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The position

Marc Baldauf vs Praggnanandhaa R, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020. Praggnanandhaa from Chennai became a grandmaster at 12 and reached the World Cup final in 2023. Praggnanandhaa R plays Black here. Look at the rook on g6: what can it do?

Step 7

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The position before the moves

Moves: 57...Re6

Praggnanandhaa R brings the rook to e6, and now a piece is pinned to its king. It pins the queen on e5.

Step 8

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The position before the moves

Moves: 57...Re6 58.Qe3 b6 59.g4 Rxe3+ 60.Kxe3 Be6

The moves: 57...Re6 58.Qe3 b6 59.g4 Rxe3+ 60.Kxe3 Be6. At the end of the line, Praggnanandhaa R has won the queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 9

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The position

Arjun Erigaisi vs Xiangyu Xu, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023. Arjun Erigaisi from Warangal became only the second Indian, after Anand, to cross a 2800 rating. Arjun Erigaisi plays White here. Look at the rook on c6: what can it do?

Step 10

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The position before the moves

Moves: 39.Rc7

Arjun Erigaisi brings the rook to c7, and now a piece is pinned to its king. It pins the bishop on d7.

From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Xiangyu Xu, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023.

Step 11

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The position before the moves

Moves: 39.Rc7 Ne5 40.Be6 Ba5 41.Rb7 Kf6 42.Bxd7

The moves: 39.Rc7 Ne5 40.Be6 Ba5 41.Rb7 Kf6 42.Bxd7. At the end of the line, Arjun Erigaisi has won the bishop. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Xiangyu Xu, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023.

Step 12

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The position

Mathias Lind Schouten vs Vaishali R, Fagernes GM Open Aut 2022. Vaishali, Praggnanandhaa's sister, became India's third woman grandmaster. Vaishali R plays Black here. Look at the bishop on b6: what can it do?

Step 13

♟︎♚︎♟︎♞︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♝︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 50...Ba5

Vaishali R brings the bishop to a5, and now a piece is pinned to its king. It pins the knight on c3.

Step 14

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The position before the moves

Moves: 50...Ba5 51.Kd3 Bxc3 52.h4 gxh4 53.gxh4 Be1

The moves: 50...Ba5 51.Kd3 Bxc3 52.h4 gxh4 53.gxh4 Be1. At the end of the line, Vaishali R has won the knight. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 15

♜︎♟︎♞︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♜︎♟︎♝︎
The position

Magnus Carlsen vs A Giri, Titled Tuesday (online) 2024. Magnus Carlsen from Norway was World Champion from 2013 to 2023. Magnus Carlsen plays White here. Look at the rook on c7: what can it do?

Step 16

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The position before the moves

Moves: 43.Rc5

Magnus Carlsen brings the rook to c5, and now a piece is pinned to its king. It pins the knight on e5.

From the game Magnus Carlsen – A Giri, Titled Tuesday (online) 2024.

Step 17

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The position before the moves

Moves: 43.Rc5 Rxh3 44.Rxe5+ Kf6 45.c5 Rc3 46.Re4

The moves: 43.Rc5 Rxh3 44.Rxe5+ Kf6 45.c5 Rc3 46.Re4. At the end of the line, Magnus Carlsen has won the knight. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Magnus Carlsen – A Giri, Titled Tuesday (online) 2024.

Step 18

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The position

Bobby Fischer vs Glicerio Badilles, Meralco 1967. Bobby Fischer from the USA became World Champion in 1972. Bobby Fischer plays White here. Look at the rook on b7: what can it do?

Step 19

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The position before the moves

Moves: 35.Rxe7

Bobby Fischer brings the rook to e7, and now a piece is pinned to its king. It captures the bishop on e7. It pins the rook on f7.

From the game Bobby Fischer – Glicerio Badilles, Meralco 1967.

Step 20

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The position before the moves

Moves: 35.Rxe7 h6 36.Qxh6+ Kg8 37.Re8+ Rf8 38.Qg6+

The moves: 35.Rxe7 h6 36.Qxh6+ Kg8 37.Re8+ Rf8 38.Qg6+. At the end of the line, Bobby Fischer has won the bishop. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Bobby Fischer – Glicerio Badilles, Meralco 1967.

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