Attack the absolute pin — Chess Library

The knight on e7 is the only thing between White’s rook and the black king. Because moving it would expose check, White can attack it with the cheapest possible piece.

Lesson

White to move. Main line: 1. d6 Kd8 2. dxe7+

1.d6 attacks the knight with a pawn. The knight cannot move while the king remains on e8: uncovering the rook’s line would be illegal.

After 1...Kd8 steps out of the pin, 2.dxe7+ collects the knight and promotes the same pawn into a new threat. White has traded no piece to win it.

An absolute pin is more than pressure. Treat the pinned unit as temporarily immobile, then ask whether a pawn or another low-value attacker can win it.