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Relative Pin

A relative pin holds a piece in place against a valuable piece. The pinned piece can move, but moving it loses the piece behind it.

A bishop pins a knight to its queen

The bishop on b5 attacks the knight on c6. Behind the knight, on the same diagonal, stands the queen on d7. The knight can move, but then the bishop captures the queen.

FEN: 4k3/3q4/2n5/1B6/8/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . q . . . . 7
6 . . n . . . . . 6
5 . B . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . . . K . 1
  a b c d e f g h

A rook pins a bishop to its rook

The rook on e1 attacks the bishop on e6. Behind the bishop, on the same file, stands the rook on e8. The bishop can move, but then the rook on e1 captures the rook on e8.

FEN: r3r2k/8/4b3/8/8/8/8/4R1K1 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r . . . r . . k 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . b . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . R . K . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • A relative pin is like an absolute pin, but the piece behind is not the king.
  • The piece behind is usually the queen or a rook.
  • The pinned piece is allowed to move.
  • Moving it exposes the valuable piece to capture.
  • Most players keep the pinned piece still and lose it instead.
  • A relative pin is a practical trap, not a legal lock.
  • Attack the pinned piece to force a hard choice.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

White to move. Which move captures the piece pinned to the queen on d7?