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Pins, threats and safe captures

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the side to move where shown. Use a board if it helps, and explain your answer before checking the solutions.

White to move, in check from the rook on h1. First solve the check; a quiet attacking plan must wait. White to move.
White to move, in check from the rook on h1. First solve the check; a quiet attacking plan must wait. White to move.

  1. What is an absolute pin?

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  2. Can a piece in an absolute pin ever move?

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  3. You capture a bishop with a rook, then lose the rook. What does the simple scale say?

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  4. Why examine checks before a quiet plan?

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Final check

Ask pupils to finish the sentence: “Before capturing, I check…”

Answers: Pins, threats and safe captures

  1. What is an absolute pin?

    Moving the pinned piece would expose its king to check, so such a move is illegal.

  2. Can a piece in an absolute pin ever move?

    Sometimes along the pin line or by capturing the attacker, provided the king remains safe.

  3. You capture a bishop with a rook, then lose the rook. What does the simple scale say?

    You gain about 3 points and lose about 5: a net loss of about 2.

  4. Why examine checks before a quiet plan?

    A check must be answered and may invalidate the plan immediately.

Teaching note

Do not treat every pinned piece as completely unable to move: movement along the pin line can sometimes be legal. Keep the king’s safety as the final test.