Breaking a Pin
A pin can be broken. Move the king, block the line, capture the attacker, or attack the attacker.
Breaking a pin by moving the king
The rook on e1 pins the knight on e7 to the king on e8. Black plays Kd8. The king leaves the e-file, so the knight on e7 is free to move again.
FEN: 4k3/4n3/8/8/8/8/8/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . n . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . R . K . 1
a b c d e f g hBreaking a pin by attacking the pinner
The bishop on b5 pins the knight on c6 to the king on e8. Black plays a6. The pawn attacks the bishop. The bishop must move, and the pin will be gone.
FEN: 4k3/p7/2n5/1B6/8/8/8/6K1 b - - 0 1
a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 p . . . . . . . 7
6 . . n . . . . . 6
5 . B . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . . . K . 1
a b c d e f g hKey points
- Moving the king off the line breaks the pin at once.
- Putting another piece in the line breaks the pin.
- Capturing the pinning piece breaks the pin.
- Attacking the pinning piece forces it to move.
- Defending the pinned piece makes capturing it less attractive.
- A pinned piece can sometimes move if the king has another defender.
- Breaking a pin is urgent when the pinned piece is under attack.
Try it Yourself
Edit the code, then press Run.
Running is simulated · Rust Playground
Exercise
Black to move. Which move breaks the pin on the knight on e7?