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Breaking a Pin

Part of the Tactics section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 17 of 48.

Sooner or later you are the one pinned. Three cures: block the line, move the king off it - castling does that and tucks him away - or chase the pinner until it runs out of squares. What never works: adding defenders. Extra guards do not unfreeze anything; only breaking the line does.

Try it yourselfBeginner

Position 1 of 6

WatchThe tidiest cure in chess. Watch.

The starting position.

0 / 3

All 6 positions

All lessons in Tactics

1Free Pieces

Hanging Pieces Counting Attackers Good Trades, Bad Trades Is It Safe?Puzzles: Take What Is Free Recap: Free Pieces

4Skewers and Discoveries

The Skewer The Discovered Attack Discovered Check Double Check Puzzles: Hidden Weapons Recap: Skewers & Discoveries

7Mate in Two

Check, Reply, Mate The Quiet First Move All the Escape Squares Puzzles: Mate in Two 1 Puzzles: Mate in Two 2 Recap: Mate in Two

2The Fork

One Move, Two Threats Knight Forks Pawn and Queen Forks Seeing Forks Coming Puzzles: Fork Hunt 1 Puzzles: Fork Hunt 2 Recap: The Fork

5Removing the Defender

The Overloaded Piece Capture the Defender Deflection Puzzles: Guard Duty Recap: Removing Defenders

8Winning Endgames

King and Queen vs King King and Rook vs King The Pawn Race Opposition Project: Finish the Game

3The Pin

Pieces That Cannot Move The Relative Pin Winning a Pinned PieceBreaking a PinPuzzles: Pin and Win Recap: The Pin

6Mate Patterns

Back Rank Revisited The Smothered Mate Queen Next to the King Rook Roller and Edge Mates Puzzles: Mate in One 1 Puzzles: Mate in One 2 Recap: Mate Patterns