Relative Pin

Academy | Tactics | Relative Pin

A relative pin occurs when the value of a pinned piece is lower than the piece behind it. This usually means the pinned piece doesn’t want to move, even though it technically can, because moving it would expose the higher-value piece behind it.

Simplified Example of a Relative Pin

Black to play. 1… Be5 pins the knight on c3 to the rook. However, White responds with 2. Re1!, pinning the black bishop in return.