Pin and Skewer Combinations
Pins and skewers often appear together. One piece is pinned, and another piece is skewered on the same line.
A pinned piece under attack
The bishop on b5 pins the knight on c6 to the king on e8. The knight on a5 also attacks the pinned knight on c6. The pinned knight cannot move away from the attack.
FEN: 4k3/8/2n5/NB6/8/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1
a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . n . . . . . 6
5 N B . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . . . K . 1
a b c d e f g hA skewer after the pin is set
The rook skewers the king on e5 and the queen on e7. This is the same skewer shape as the skewer lesson. Here it shows how a line attack wins a piece that cannot be defended in time.
FEN: 8/4q3/8/4k3/8/8/8/R5K1 w - - 0 1
a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . . . 8
7 . . . . q . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . k . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 R . . . . . K . 1
a b c d e f g hKey points
- A pinned piece cannot run from an attack.
- A skewered piece must run and expose the piece behind it.
- A combination uses both ideas in one sequence.
- First pin the piece that would defend the skewered target.
- Then attack the pinned piece while it cannot move.
- Then capture the exposed piece behind the skewered king.
- Count attackers and defenders before the first move of the combination.
Try it Yourself
Edit the code, then press Run.
Running is simulated · Rust Playground
Exercise
White to move. Which move captures the pinned knight on e7?