Absolute Pin

Academy | Tactics | Absolute Pin

An absolute pin occurs when a piece is pinned to the king along a rank, file, or diagonal. The pinned piece cannot legally move, because doing so would expose the king to check.

Simplified Example of an Absolute Pin

Absolute Pin
White to play. 1. Qxg6 wins the knight.

The pawn on f7 was pinned by the bishop on b3, which meant the Black knight was actually undefended.