Understanding Chess Tactics: Forks, Pins, and Skewers

In chess, tactics are short-term combinations that help you win material or gain a better position. Three of the most powerful and common tactics are forks, pins, and skewers. Mastering these can quickly improve your play and help you outsmart your opponents. Let’s break each one down with clear examples and famous games that used them to win.

🔱 Forks
A fork happens when one piece attacks two or more enemy pieces at the same time. Knights are especially famous for this. Imagine a knight jumping to a square where it threatens both the king and queen—your opponent must move the king, and you take the queen! A famous example is from the game Fischer vs. Benko, 1963, where Bobby Fischer used a knight fork to win material and dominate the game. Try this puzzle:
White to move: Knight on d5, enemy king on f6, queen on e7. Can you spot the fork?

🧷 Pins
A pin is when a piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it. For example, if a bishop pins a knight to the king, that knight is “stuck.” This tactic is great for freezing your opponent’s pieces. In the classic Alekhine vs. Nimzowitsch, 1930, Alekhine used a devastating pin with a rook that led to a brilliant finish. Puzzle time:
Black to move: Bishop on g4, white queen on f3, white king on g1. What happens if the queen moves?

🔪 Skewers
A skewer is the reverse of a pin—the more valuable piece is in front, and when it moves, you take the piece behind it. Think of a rook attacking a queen, with a rook behind it. Once the queen moves, the enemy loses the rook. This tactic was beautifully used in the game Karpov vs. Spassky, 1974, where Karpov skewered a rook behind the queen to gain an edge. Here's a puzzle:
White to move: Rook on a1, black queen on a8, black rook on a7. Can you play the skewer?

Tactics like these are what turn even equal games into wins. They show the magic of chess—a single move can change everything. Practice spotting forks, pins, and skewers in your games, and you’ll see your skills rise fast. Include puzzles in your training and review games by masters to see how they use these tricks. Ready to try them in your next game?