Pin a piece to its king or to something bigger and win it; skewer the king or the queen and take what stands behind. This is a tactics course with 8 lessons and 60 interactive exercises, suited to players rated around 1400 (club players). Every exercise is played on a real board with feedback after each move, there is nothing to install, and it is free.
Lessons in Pins and skewers
Skewers – A skewer is a pin turned round: attack the more valuable piece, and when it steps aside, take what stood behind it.
Pins against the king – A piece pinned to its king cannot move at all. Pile up on it, or attack it with a pawn, and it falls.
Pins against a bigger piece – A piece pinned to a queen or rook may move, but then the piece behind it is lost. Use the pin before the opponent can break it.
Skewers, part 2 – A skewer is a pin turned round: attack the more valuable piece, and when it steps aside, take what stood behind it. More positions, a little harder.
Pins against the king, part 2 – A piece pinned to its king cannot move at all. Pile up on it, or attack it with a pawn, and it falls. More positions, a little harder.
Pins against a bigger piece, part 2 – A piece pinned to a queen or rook may move, but then the piece behind it is lost. Use the pin before the opponent can break it. More positions, a little harder.
Skewers, part 3 – A skewer is a pin turned round: attack the more valuable piece, and when it steps aside, take what stood behind it. More positions, a little harder.
Pins against the king, part 3 – A piece pinned to its king cannot move at all. Pile up on it, or attack it with a pawn, and it falls. More positions, a little harder.
Next steps
Deflection and decoy – Drag defenders away from their duties, lure pieces onto fatal squares, remove the defender and exploit overloaded pieces.
chessGM