♟️ Chess for Kids · Lesson 8 of 8
Tactics: forks and pins
Piece values, forks, pins, and how to keep improving.
Piece values
| Pawn | 1 point |
|---|---|
| Knight | 3 points |
| Bishop | 3 points |
| Rook | 5 points |
| Queen | 9 points |
| King | Priceless — the whole game |
The fork
A fork is when one piece attacks two (or more) enemy pieces at once. The opponent can save only one. Knights are famous forkers — a knight check that also attacks the queen is a “royal fork”.
The pin
A pin is when a piece can’t move because a more valuable piece is behind it. If a bishop attacks a knight and the king is behind the knight, the knight is pinned — moving it would be illegal. Bishops, rooks and queens make pins.
How to keep improving
- Solve 5 puzzles a day (“White to move and win”)
- Play longer games where you have time to think
- After a game, find one mistake and what you should have played
- Join a school or library chess club
Tip
💡 Count before you capture: what do I take, and what will I lose back? A trade of a knight (3) for a rook (5) is good for you.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Set up a knight fork on a king and a rook
- Set up a pin with a bishop
- Solve 5 beginner chess puzzles
- Play a full game and look for a fork every move
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in Chess for Kids
- 🏁 1. The board and the setupFiles, ranks, and where each piece stands
- 🏰 2. The rook and the bishopStraight lines and diagonals
- 👑 3. The queen, the king and the knightThe strongest piece, the most important piece and the piece that jumps
- ♙ 4. The pawnDouble step, diagonal capture, promotion and en passant
- 🏆 5. Check, checkmate and stalemateHow you win, and when it’s a draw
- 🏯 6. CastlingThe move that hides the king
- 🚀 7. The opening and trapsCenter, development, a safe king, and avoiding Scholar’s Mate
- ⚔️ 8. Tactics: forks and pinsPiece values, forks, pins, and how to keep improving