Step 6: Tactics I + CCA · about 25 min
Pins
Goal: Kids can see a pinned piece, make a pin, and win a pinned piece by attacking it.
You need: One board and set per pair
1 · Teach it (15 min)
Read these out loud, or put them in your own words. Show each board on screen or set it up on a demo board.
1.“A pin is when a piece can't move, or shouldn't, because a more important piece is hiding behind it. Here the black bishop can't move: the king is behind it, and moving would put the king in check.”
2.“Only bishops, rooks and queens can pin, because they attack along lines.”
3.“Pinned pieces are easy targets. Attack one with a pawn and it can't run away!”
4.“Use CCA on pins too: if one of your pieces is pinned, protect it or get out of the pin before your opponent piles on.”
- Moving a piece that's pinned to the king (that's illegal).
- Pinning a piece that's well protected and thinking it wins something.
2 · Play it: Pin Spotters (10 min)
Set up: Normal game in pairs.
- Play a normal game.
- Whenever a piece gets pinned, either player can call out 'Pin!' for a bonus point.
- If you win a pinned piece, that's two bonus points.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 6 → Pins: Stuck in Place. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S6-L3-R5.
🧩 Extra puzzles: 60 real puzzles from lichess.org for kids who finish early: the Extra puzzles button in student mode, or tick Extra puzzles on the worksheet page (8 per set).
Practice (3) with answers
1.Circle the black piece that is pinned.
Answer: e7
2.Pin the black knight to its king. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Bb5
3.The knight is pinned. Win it! Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: d4 or f4
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Use a pin to win the queen. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Re1
2.Which pieces can make a pin?
- Knights and pawns
- ✓Bishops, rooks and queens
- Only the king
3.Why can't the black bishop on e7 move?
- ✓It would put its own king in check
- Bishops can't move backward
- It's Black's first move
Topic order based on: Chess for Children, Part 5 (basic tactics). All wording is original.