White to move · 3 moves · Rating 789
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
40.Rxf7 Rd1+ 41.Ka2 Qxf7+ 42.Qxf7+
Ponderchess / Puzzles
Pin puzzles
130 pin puzzles from real games, rated 789 to 2652. Here are 18, from easiest to hardest.
A pin attacks a piece that cannot move without exposing something more valuable behind it. Against the king, the pinned piece is not allowed to move at all; against a queen or rook, moving it simply loses material.
Pins win by piling up: attack the pinned piece again, often with a pawn, and it falls because it cannot step away. Some puzzles here create a pin; others exploit one that is already on the board.
How to solve them: Trace every line through the enemy king and queen with a bishop, rook or queen in mind. A piece standing alone on that line is a pin waiting to happen.
New to the idea? Read Pin in chess first.
18 pin puzzles to solve
Solve it on the board →
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1091
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qxf6
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 1217
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
10.Qh5+ g6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Qxh8
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 1304
Find checkmate in 2 moves.
Show the solution
37...Nf3+ 38.Kh1 Qe1#
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 1405
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
31...gxf3+ 32.Rxf3 Qxe4 33.Rxe4 Bxe4
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1572
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
38.Bc4 Kg7 39.Bxd5
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 1656
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
23...Rcb6 24.Kf1 Rb1 25.Qxb1 Rxb1+
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1791
Find checkmate in 2 moves.
Show the solution
25.Ne7+ Kg7 26.Qg5#
Black to move · 6 moves · Rating 1883
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
52...Rxe5 53.dxe5 Bxc3 54.Kg6 Bxe5 55.Kf5 c3 56.Kxe5 c2 57.g6 c1=Q
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1974
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
12.Qh5+ Kg8 13.Qxc5
White to move · 4 moves · Rating 2049
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
30.Ng6+ Kg8 31.Ne7+ Kf7 32.Rxf2+ Qxf2+ 33.Kxf2
Black to move · 4 moves · Rating 2111
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
18...Rxg3+ 19.hxg3 Rxg3+ 20.Kh1 Qxf2 21.Re8+ Kd7
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 2233
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
12.Qe2+ Be7 13.Bb4 Qxb4+ 14.Rxb4
Black to move · 4 moves · Rating 2308
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
26...Qxh3 27.g3 Rh5 28.Qxh5 Qxh5 29.axb6 cxb6
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 2402
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
30.Rgxe6 Ng7 31.Rxe7 Qxe7 32.Rxe7
White to move · 5 moves · Rating 2506
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
15.Kd2 Re8 16.Rxg7+ Nxg7 17.Rg1 Bf8 18.Nf6+ Qxf6 19.Qxf6
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 2566
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
31.Rxh6 Qxb2+ 32.Kg3
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 2652
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
28.Qg8+ Bf8 29.Qxh8
Train all 130 pin puzzles in the trainer, with a rating that adapts to you →
Positions from the open Lichess puzzle database (CC0).