Pin to Win: The Ultimate Guide to Chess Pin Tactics"

Chess Pins:
 Learn, Practice, and Master the Pin

The pin is a powerful chess tactic that restricts your opponent's options and unlocks winning opportunities.

 When an attacking piece puts pressure on a defending piece, pinning it to a more valuable piece behind it, the defender faces a dilemma: move and expose the valuable piece, or stay put and remain limited. Pins can win material, deliver checkmate, or simply disrupt your opponent's plans.

Let's delve into the world of pins and explore the resources that will turn you into a pin-pointing pro!

Pin (chess)
 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  

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BOOKS (Free)

• The Pin - 7 page PDF -English Chess Federation 
  
  
• PIN and WIN - 2 Page PDF- WorkSheet
  
  

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Pin Chess Articles

• The Pin - Nice Article on Chess Trainer Blog
  
  
• Typical Patterns Everyone Should Know : Pin, unpin... - Nice Chess.com Article
  
  
• Pin Tactics - Chess Fox Guide (Very In-Depth Guide)
  
  
• The Pin Tactic in Chess Explained by a Grandmaster [For Beginners] -  LiChess Blog Post (Chessmood )
  
  

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LiChess Pin Studies

LiChess offers a wealth of interactive studies designed to sharpen your pin tactic skills. Here's a curated selection to elevate your chess game:

• The Pin - LiChess Tactic Practice Area - 8 Problems
  
  
• Pin tactics patterns exercises - 25 Chapter Study - Many different styles of Pin Exercises mostly all Mates.
  
  

Interactive Studies

• PINS (Absolute + Relative): LESSON - 25 Chapter Interactive Study - 6 lessons on absolute and relative pins w/ 18 interactive puzzles.
  
  
• PINS! 📌 - 10 Chapter Interactive Study (Guide on Pins)
  
  
• Pins  - 11 Chapter Interactive Study (Nice Lesson) 
  
  
• Piling on the pin  - 11 Chapter Interactive Study

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Pin Puzzles

Test your pin-solving skills with a variety of puzzles designed to challenge your ability to identify and exploit pin tactics. 

WTHarvey

• 24 Pin Puzzles

Expert Chess Strategies 

• 10 Chess Problems - Defend Against the Pin 
• 10 Chess Problems - Pinning Chess Pieces

LiChess Puzzle Themes

• LiChess Pin Puzzles - 220,000+ Puzzles - Explore a vast library of  puzzles on Lichess to hone your pin-solving skills.

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PIN Video Lessons

Secrets of Chess Tactics | Chess Pins | Stunningly beautiful secrets revealed  - 17 Min - kingscrusher goes over the Pin chess tactic with numerous pinning examples

2 MOST Important Chess Tactics You Should Know | Tactics Training - 15 Min GM Smirnov - Pins and Forks - He starts from simple positions and gradually increases the complexity, going for more advanced level chess tactics.

The 4 most important Pins in Chess | Chess Tactics | IM Alex Astaneh - 24 Min -  Based on practical examples, you will get a basic understanding of the absolute pin, the relative pin, the situational pin and the partial pin.
The Power of the Pin - Beginner to Chess Master #14 - 37 Min - Discussed is what makes a pin so powerful in a chess game.

How To Deal With Pins On Your Knights - 19 Min NM Lopez  - Practical advice on what to do when your knight gets pinned by a bishop.

ST Louis Chess Club

• Pins! | Chess for Beginners - WGM Jennifer Shahade - 33 Min
  
  
• Pins: Absolutely No Way to Move | Tactics Time! - 27 Min - NM Jim McLaughlin - National Master Jim McLaughlin introduces pins to the beginner class. See if you can find out how to "pin it to win it."
  
  
• Create and Utilize Pins | Beginner Breakdown - NM Ralph Tan - 59 Min - Maybe you can spot a pin in a puzzle, but how do you set up a pin in a real game? 8 Game Examples (New - 5/29/24)
  
  
• Absolute & Relative Pins | Kids' Class - GM Ben Finegold - 33 Min Video Below

Tactic the Pin - 11 Min Video 

The Power of the Pin - 9 Min Video 
Chess Puzzle Nasty Pin - 2 min Video
The 5 Most Amazing Pins in Chess - 10 Min GM Simon Williams 

Unlocking Free Chess Resources: A Comprehensive Repository of Free Online Books

Exploring Free Chess Books: Your Ultimate Resource Repository

Delve into a treasure trove of free chess resources with our comprehensive repository of online books. From tactical masterpieces to strategic insights, discover a wealth of knowledge curated to elevate your chess game.

Unleash a Library of Chess Knowledge: Exploring the Internet Archive

The Internet Archive is a digital goldmine for chess enthusiasts! Explore a vast collection of free chess books, from timeless classics to modern strategy guides. Utilize their search function to find specific titles or browse by category to discover hidden gems.

 Internet Archive - The Internet Archive is a vast digital library offering free access to millions of books, websites, videos, and other cultural artifacts.

Treasure Hunt for Free Chess Books: Google Books to the Rescue!

Did you know Google offers a treasure trove of free chess books in the public domain? Search for titles by strategy, tactics, openings, or endgames and download PDFs for convenient offline study.

Google Search of Books in Public Domain 

(These Books are still Here, just enter Captcha on Googles site and download starts for some or click "Ebook - Free" Button for others) 

(Click link to Download PDF Version of Book)

Strategy and Instruction Books
Build a Chess Mastermind: Foundational Strategy & Instruction Books

Sharpen your strategic thinking and chess fundamentals with this collection of free books! Explore core chess concepts, tactics, and opening principles to develop a well-rounded understanding of the game.

1. The Complete Guide to Chess Master: Chess Tactics, Chess Openings and Chess Strategies - 144 pg
   
2. Chess Praxis - By Howard Staunton
3. The Chess Tournament - By Howard Staunton
   
4. The Chess-player's Companion -By Howard Staunton
   
5. The Modern Chess Instructor - By William Steinitz
   
6. Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess - By Joeseph henry Blackburne
7. The Laws and Practice of Chess -By Howard Staunton, Robert B. Wormald, Robert Bownas
   
8. Chess Strategy - By Eduard Lasker 
9. Chess Studies Comprising 1000 Games - By George Walker
10. Laskers Chess Magazine Vol 2 -  By Emanuel Lasker
11. Analysis of the game of Chess - Philidor
12. The Book of Chess - By Howard Staunton
13. The American Chess Players Handbook - By Howard Staunton

Chess Player Books
Learn from the Legends: Explore Books Featuring Games of Chess Masters

Immerse yourself in the games of chess greats! This section curates books featuring games played by legendary figures like Morphy and Marshall. Analyze their moves, strategies, and thought processes to elevate your own chess skills.

Morphys Games of Chess - By Paul Charles Morphy, Johann Löwenthal

Marshals Chess Swindles - By Frank J Marshal (Over 125 Tourn. and Match Games)

Chess Opening Books
Chart Your Chess Course: Free Books to Conquer Chess Openings

Unravel the mysteries of chess openings with free books dedicated to this crucial game phase. Learn about popular openings, strategic concepts, and how to develop a strong opening repertoire to gain an early advantage.

1. Chess Openings -By Frank James Marshall
   
2. Modern Chess Openings  - By Griffith and White  (Pretty old book of openings but FREE)
   
3. The Chess Openings considered critically and practically - By Henry Bird
4. Chess Openings For Beginners - By Cunningham
5. Positions in the Chess Openings most Freq. Played - Thomas Long
6. Chess Players Compendium (Practical Guide to Openings) - By William Cook
7. Synopsis of the Chess Openings - By William Cook
8. Chess Openings - By Fredrick Longman
9. The Chess Openings - By Ginsburg
10. Jaenisch's Chess Preceptor - Jaenisch and Valker 
11. The Chess Openings (Notable positions and problems) - By Bird

Chess Endgame Books
Mastering the Final Frontier: Free Books to Dominate Chess Endgames

Don't let your winning positions slip away! Delve into free endgame books to refine your skills in converting advantages and securing victories. Learn essential endgame principles and practice key techniques.

1. Chess Endings - By Freebourough
2. Chess Symposium - By Halpern  (100 Endgame Studies)
3. Select Chess Endgames from Actual Play - By Freebourough

Chess Problem Books (Tactics Books)
Sharpen Your Chess Vision: Free Tactics Books to Boost Your Game

Chess tactics are the heart and soul of the game. Hone your tactical skills with free problem books packed with puzzles and exercises. Test your pattern recognition, calculation abilities, and develop the sharp eye of a chess master.

1. A Selection of Popular Two Move Chess Problems -  Brownson (100 problems)
2. A Collection of 200 Chess Problems -  By Francis Healey
3. Chess Problems  - By Pierce (Hundreds of Problems)
   
   

BISHOPS BOUNTY CHESS TACTICS BOOK PAGE 

(Page of Internet Archive Downloads, Free Chessable Tactics Courses , ETC)

 

Chess Tournament Books
Learn from the Best: Analyze Classic Games with Free Tournament Books

Step back in time and witness the brilliance of chess masters in action. Explore free tournament books that showcase historical chess battles, allowing you to analyze the games of legends and uncover valuable strategic insights.

1. International Masters Tournament  Manhattan Chess Club 1918 - (Marshall and Capablanca present)
2. London Intern. Tourn. 1883  (Bird and Winawer present)
3. The Hastings Chess Tourn. 1885
4. The Monte Carlo Tourn 1903 - (Tarrasch, Marshall, and Maroczy)

Want to delve deeper? Explore even more chess resources on the Blog! Many of our sidebar topics offer links to additional chess books and shorter PDFs at the top of each page. Discover a wealth of chess knowledge to supplement your learning journey.

 

Chess Tactics - Learning to Count

“Pins and forks and removal of the guard usually occur a few times a game. Counting takes place whenever possible exchanges exist – almost every move after the early opening.” - Heisman Novice Nook 

Videos

Why counting Material is important for Chess Beginners | Chess Fundamentals | - 8 Min IM Astaneh

Chess Vision and Calculation Training 1 | Alex Astaneh - 12 Min

Chess Vision and Calculation Training 2 | -8 min

IM Kostya Kavutskiy

Kostya's Blueprint: Calculation - 36 Min 

Kostya's Blueprint: Analytical Skill - 24 Min

Kostya's Blueprint: Wisdom - 32 Min

Kostya's Blueprint: Visualization - 28 Min

The SuperGM Skill Set - Chess Calculation with GM Sam Shankland - 27 Min

Counting in Chess - 17 Min

Chess Math? | Learning to Count! | ChessKid - 9 Min

The Counting Tactic - Back to Basics - 27 Min

How To Calculate In Chess - 32 Min IM Rozman (Gotham)

Chess Basics: Count Attackers & Defenders! - 26 Min

How to Master Chess CALCULATION 💯 Best Techniques - 28 Min

The Common, Important, and Not-So-Easy Tactic Counting - 29 Min NM Dan Heismith

Counting Material During Exchanges - 3 Methods - 29 Min NM Dan Heisman

Counting trick in pawn endgames [Starter chess lesson] - 7 Min

Precise Chess Calculation Secrets 🕵️ with GM Bryan Smith! [Master Method] - 32 Min

Kings Gambit (C30-C39) - Opening Theory

Master the King's Gambit: A Complete Guide for All Levels

Sharpen your attack and dominate the center with the King's Gambit! This legendary chess opening is perfect for players who crave aggressive possibilities and dynamic battles.

Here's what you'll find in this comprehensive guide:

• Master the Fundamentals: Gain a solid understanding of the King's Gambit's core concepts, including the pawn sacrifice and the fight for central control.

• Level Up Your Skills: Whether you're a seasoned player or a curious beginner, we offer resources tailored to your needs. Find free books, informative articles, video lessons, and interactive puzzles to elevate your King's Gambit game.

• Dominate the Center: Learn powerful strategies to control the center of the board, a crucial element for success with the King's Gambit.

• Leave Your Opponents Reeling: Explore the tactical possibilities unleashed by the King's Gambit and discover how to exploit weaknesses for a winning advantage.
  
  

Kings Gambit Wikipedia Page 
For a general overview of the opening and its variations along with its history. 
Fischer Defense Wikipedia Page
Page Devoted to the Fischer Defense to the Kings Gambit 

Bishop's Bounty Falkbeer Counter Gambit Page

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BOOKS (Free)

Here's a treasure trove of free books to equip you with the knowledge and strategies you need to dominate the opening:

A BUST TO THE KING'S GAMBIT - Bobby Fishers 2 page PDF -  Get a glimpse into the legendary Bobby Fischer's perspective on the King's Gambit. This short but insightful PDF might offer surprising counter-arguments to White's gambit.

500 Kings Gambit Miniatures by Bill Wall - 100 Page PDF -  Learn from the greats! Explore a collection of 500 miniature games featuring the King's Gambit, allowing you to witness tactical brilliance and strategic maneuvers in action.

The Gambit by M. Yudovich - 251 Page PDF - Delve deeper with this comprehensive book on gambit play in chess. While not solely focused on the King's Gambit, it provides valuable insights into the underlying principles and strategic considerations relevant to the opening.

How To Play The Chess Openings by Eugene A. Znosko-Borovsky - 164 Page PDF - Gain a foundational understanding of chess openings in general, including the King's Gambit. This book offers a solid starting point for beginners unfamiliar with opening theory.

Modern Chess Openings 14 - 546 Page PDF - For the truly ambitious, this massive volume by a renowned chess publisher provides in-depth analysis of various chess openings, including extensive coverage of the King's Gambit and its variations.

 

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Kings Gambit Chess Articles

The King's Gambit offers a vast landscape of strategic possibilities and tactical intricacies. Here, we've curated a collection of informative articles to enhance your understanding and sharpen your King's Gambit skills:

Article about a line in Kieseritzky Gambit -  Dive into a specific line within the King's Gambit with Ignacio Martin's insightful article. This might be particularly helpful for players seeking to explore less common variations.

Kings Gambit - Simplify Chess provides a comprehensive guide that covers all the major points and variations of the King's Gambit. This is a great resource for players seeking a foundational understanding of the opening.

Variations of the Kings Gambit - This article from the Exeter Chess Club offers a clear breakdown of the King's Gambit's main variations. Explore responses like the Accepted Gambit, the Counter Gambit (Falkbeer), and the Just Develop approach. Gain a solid understanding of the strategic choices Black has after 1. e4 e5 2. f4.

King’s Gambit: How to Play the Most Aggressive Chess Opening -Delve into an extensive guide by ichess. This resource incorporates embedded videos for a more interactive learning experience, perfect for visual learners who prefer a multimedia approach.

Play the Exciting, Fighting King’s Gambit Now - Embrace the aggressive spirit of the King's Gambit with Chessable's in-depth blog guide. This comprehensive resource provides a deep dive into the opening, potentially appealing to players seeking a more advanced understanding.

 

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Kings Gambit LiChess Studies
Lichess offers a fantastic platform to hone your King's Gambit skills through interactive studies. Here's a treasure trove of resources to boost your tactical awareness and strategic understanding:

• King's Gambit - 10 Chapter Study - Build a solid foundation with this 10-chapter study covering core King's Gambit concepts (960 hearts). 
  
  
• King's Gambit Opening Traps - 10 Chapter Study - Sharpen your tactical vision with a 10-chapter exploration of common King's Gambit pitfalls for both White and Black (280 hearts).
  
  
• Ultimate King's Gambit Traps List - 22 Chapter Study - This comprehensive 22-chapter study equips you with a vast arsenal of King's Gambit traps.
  
  
• King's Gambit for Black - 4 Chapter Study - Considering playing the Black side? This 4-chapter study delves into effective responses to the King's Gambit, giving you a well-rounded understanding.
  
  
• King's Gambit, everything you need to know - 16 Chapter Study For a thorough exploration, embark on this in-depth 16-chapter study that covers everything you need to know about the King's Gambit (280 hearts).

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(Kings Gambit Chess Puzzles)

Ready to put your King's Gambit knowledge to the test? Dive into a selection of puzzles designed to sharpen your tactical awareness and decision-making skills:

• King's Gambit: Allagier & Kiesertisky (C39) - 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 (10 Puzzles)
  
  
• 25 Lichess Kings Gambit Puzzles - This interactive study offers 25 unique positions testing your understanding of various King's Gambit scenarios.

LiChess Opening's Puzzles 

Delve Deeper with Lichess Openings Puzzles:
For a more comprehensive exploration, Lichess offers dedicated puzzle sections for the King's Gambit Accepted and the King's Gambit Declined . Each section can be further broken down by specific variations, allowing you to focus on specific lines.

• King's Gambit Accepted - 13,360 Puzzles (Can be broken down to 25 Variations)
• King's Gambit Declined - 6598 Puzzles  (Can Also be broken down to 12 Variations)

WTHarvey.com

• Falkbeer Counter Gambit (ECO C31) - 5 Puzzles
  
  
• King's Knight's Gambit (ECO C34) - 5 Puzzles

By actively solving these puzzles, you'll develop the tactical vision and problem-solving skills necessary to dominate your opponents in King's Gambit games.

 

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Game Databases

Theory is essential, but nothing beats learning from the greats! Here, we delve into valuable game databases where you can witness the King's Gambit come alive in real chess battles:

365Chess.com

C30 King's Gambit  1. e4 e5 2. f4  (16,408 Games)

C31 King's Gambit Declined, Falkbeer counter-gambit  1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 (2857 Games)

C32 King's Gambit Declined, Falkbeer, 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Nf6 5. dxe4 (424 Games)

C33 King's Gambit Accepted  1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4  (8712 games)

C34 King's Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 (6695 Games)

C35 King's Gambit Accepted, Cunningham defence 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 (800 Games)

C36 King's Gambit Accepted, Abbazia defence (classical defence, modern defence[!]) 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5  (1210 Games)

C37 King's Gambit Accepted, Quaade gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Nc3 (366 Games)

C38 King's Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7 (366 Games)

C39: King's Gambit Accepted 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 (906 Games)

Chessgames.com

This site provides a curated collection of 100 annotated King's Gambit games (C30-C39). Studying these annotated games with expert commentary allows you to:

• Witness Strategic Maneuvers: Understand how grandmasters handle the opening's complexities.
• Learn from Tactical Brilliance: Discover hidden tactical opportunities employed by the best players.
• Improve Your Decision-Making: Analyze critical junctures in the games and see how masters navigate them.

Kings Gambit C30-C39 - 100 Annotated games 

 

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King's Gambit Video Lessons

Learning by watching can be a fantastic way to grasp chess concepts. Here's a curated selection of video lessons to elevate your King's Gambit understanding:

King's Gambit Opening Theory - 10 Video Playlist - Hanging Pawns (4 hrs) This comprehensive playlist provides a deep dive into King's Gambit theory, perfect for players seeking a thorough exploration.

King’s Gambit: Powerful Chess Opening Weapon for White! - 23 Min GM Igor Smirnov - Get a quick yet insightful overview of the King's Gambit's strengths and strategic possibilities from Grandmaster Smirnov.

GRANDMASTER EXPLAINS: The King's Gambit - 43 Min - GM Eric Hansen - Benefit from GM Hansen's expertise as he breaks down the King's Gambit for a clear and engaging learning experience.

King's Gambit Masterclass - 1.5 hr - IM Andras Toth - Live Stream (New 6/30/2024)

(St Louis Chess Club Videos)

(3-part series by Johnathan Scrantz, 122 minutes total):
Embark on a captivating journey with this three-part video series that explores various aspects of the King's Gambit.

• Adventures in the King's Gambit: Part 1 - Chess Openings Explained - 40 Min 
• Adventures in the King's Gambit: Part 2 - Chess Openings Explained - 45 Min
• Adventures in the King's Gambit: Part 3 - Chess Openings Explained - 37 Min

King's Gambit Opening Lecture by GM Ben Finegold - 65 Min  - Renowned chess instructor GM Finegold's lectures are known for their depth and clarity. This video offers a valuable opportunity to learn from his experience.

(Blacks Response Kings Gambit Videos)

Crushing the King's Gambit | GM Naro's Opening Lab - 53 Min - Take a deeper dive with GM Naroditsky as he explores various strategies for Black against the King's Gambit. This comprehensive video equips you with the knowledge to handle White's different approaches and potentially turn the tables on your opponent.

Refute the King's Gambit as Black | Falkbeer Countergambit: Tricky Opening - 20 Min GM Igor Smirnov -This video delves into the Falkbeer Counter Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5), a dynamic and aggressive response that challenges White's gambit directly.

Allgaier Kings gambit (5.Ng5) Refuted - Chess Audio Books

(Fischer's famous 'refutation' of the King's Gambit.)

• "A Bust to the King's Gambit" - part 1 - 10 Min
• "A Bust to the King's Gambit" - part 2 - 10 Min
• "A Bust to the King's Gambit" - part 3 - 5 Min

Kings Gambit Opening Traps & Tactics

8 Deadly TRAPS in the King’s Gambit | Chess Opening Tricks to WIN FAST - 12 Min - Learn how to exploit common pitfalls your opponents might fall into with this exciting video on King's Gambit traps.

Chess Traps #3: King's Gambit Declined Trap - 6 Min - Focus on a specific trap in the King's Gambit Declined to add another weapon to your arsenal.

Kings Gambit Game Videos (W/Analysis)

• King's Gambit - 20 Video Playlist - Witness historical King's Gambit games analyzed by the popular chess YouTuber agadmator.
  
  
• The Kings Gambit collection - 117 Video playlist - Dive into a massive collection of King's Gambit games analyzed by the YouTuber kingscrusher.
  
  
• King's Gambit - 75 Video Playlist  - Explore another extensive playlist featuring King's Gambit games with analysis, provided by the Chess School channel.
  
  

Bonus Videos:

Chess Speedrun | King's Gambit | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 33 Min - Watch GM Naroditsky play a King's Gambit game with commentary, offering insights into practical decision-making.

Learn the King's Gambit opening with GM Hikaru - 60 Min - Gain valuable instruction from the ever-popular GM Hikaru Nakamura in this in-depth King's Gambit video lesson.