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Chess Moment · Learn · Lesson 6

Pins and skewers

Two enemy pieces on one line: the one in front cannot move — or must.

4 min · 5 steps

This is the written edition of an interactive lesson. In the app you play every position on the board; here you read it.

Step 1 · The pin

White to move

FEN: r1bqkbnr/5ppp/p1np4/4p3/B2PP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQK1NR w KQkq - 0 1

Your bishop on a4 looks along the diagonal b5, c6, d7 — straight at the black king on e8. A piece standing on that line is pinned.

Which black piece is pinned?

Quick check

  • The knight on c6
  • The pawn on d6
  • The bishop on f8
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: The knight on c6 — Yes. If the knight moved, the bishop on a4 would give check — so the knight is not allowed to move at all.

  • The pawn on d6 — The pawn on d6 is not on the bishop's line. The diagonal from a4 runs through b5, c6 and d7 to the king.
  • The bishop on f8 — Nothing attacks through f8. A pin needs an attacker, a piece in the middle, and something valuable behind it on the same line.

Step 2 · Attack what cannot run

White to move

FEN: r1bqkbnr/5ppp/p1np4/4p3/B2PP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQK1NR w KQkq - 0 1

A pinned piece cannot run. Attack it: push the pawn from d4 to d5.

The move: d4-d5

Pawn to d5 attacks the knight, and the knight cannot move — that would expose the king. Black can only defend it or lose it.

Common mistake: That is not the pin-winning move. The knight cannot move, so attack it with a pawn: d4 to d5.

Step 3 · The skewer

White to move

FEN: 7r/8/8/4k3/8/8/5PPP/2B3K1 w - - 0 1

A skewer is a pin in reverse: the valuable piece stands in front and must move, uncovering the piece behind it.

Which bishop move lines up the king with the rook on h8?

Quick check

  • Bishop to b2
  • Bishop to e3
  • Bishop to h6
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: Bishop to b2 — Yes: b2, e5 and h8 sit on one diagonal. The king is in check and must move — and then the rook is yours.

  • Bishop to e3 — From e3 the bishop attacks d4 and f4 — not the king. No check, no skewer.
  • Bishop to h6 — From h6 the bishop looks at g7 and f8. The king on e5 and the rook on h8 are not on its diagonals.

Step 4 · Line them up

White to move

FEN: 7r/8/8/4k3/8/8/5PPP/2B3K1 w - - 0 1

Play it: bishop to b2, check.

The move: Bc1-b2

Check. The king has to leave the diagonal, and the rook behind it is next.

Common mistake: No check yet. Bishop from c1 to b2 puts the king and the rook on the same diagonal.

The king steps aside

Black to move

FEN: 7r/8/8/4k3/8/8/1B3PPP/6K1 b - - 1 1

The king steps to d5. The diagonal from b2 to h8 is open — the rook is hanging.

Step 5 · Collect

White to move

FEN: 7r/8/8/3k4/8/8/1B3PPP/6K1 w - - 2 2

Take the rook.

The move: Bb2xh8

Bishop takes rook. The skewer forced the king to move and won the piece behind it.

Common mistake: The rook on h8 is still there. The bishop on b2 reaches it along the long diagonal.

What you learned

A piece pinned to its king cannot expose the king. Other pins can be broken. A skewer attacks the front piece to reach one behind.

Practise this idea

Public-domain positions that turn on exactly what this lesson taught.