Pinned defender

A piece looks defended when a friendly unit attacks its square. That defence is only apparent when the defender is pinned to a piece behind it. The pin counts when the piece behind is undefended, or worth more than the pinning queen, rook, or bishop. A pin to the king always counts.

Why you should notice it

Plans that rely on a recapture fail when the defender cannot leave the pin. The piece in front still looks safe, so it is easy to leave it there or to grab something else.

When to check it

During threat assessment, which of my pieces is protected only by a pinned unit? While finding a move, which of theirs has the same illusion? This is a position scan, before you choose a move.

Why players miss it during games

The defender is still on the board, so the square looks covered. Relative pins, not only pins to the king, create the same blind spot. Puzzle positions usually show the capture already; in a game you have to see the pin first.

How WayChess trains it

You circle every pawn, knight, bishop, rook, or queen that a pinned piece defends. Another real defender does not remove the circle. If none qualify, you submit with no marks. The same check is trained on your pieces and on the opponent’s.

Related checks

Undefended pieces are the case with no protector at all. Here the protector is still on the board, and that protector is pinned. Seemingly defended landing asks whether a candidate move lands on a square one of those pins defends.

See all habits.