Half-pin

The half-pin is an enduring problem idea that dates back to the 19th century. The set-up of this theme consists of two black pieces standing on a line between the black king and a long-range white piece. When either of the black pieces moves off the line, the remaining piece becomes fully pinned, and this immobility is then exploited by White who delivers a pin-mate, i.e. a mate that is dependent on the pin of one of the defending pieces. To be complete, a half-pin must involve the pinning of each of the two black pieces in turn, such a reciprocal effect ensuring that the variations are linked harmoniously.

Problem 55 is an elegant example of a changed half-pin. Set mates are provided for all of Black’s moves. 1…Sd-any – self-pinning the b6-knight – 2.Qd5. The other knight’s moves, besides completing the half-pin, demonstrate correction play. A ‘random’ move such as 1…Sa4 unguards c8 and permits 2.Qc8. The knight ‘corrects’ this error by 1…Sd7!? which, however, contains a new error (self-block), allowing 2.Qg8. The key 1.Qc7! creates another block position and changes two of the set mates. 1…Sd-any 2.d5, 1…Sb-random 2.Qc8, 1…Sd7!? 2.Qc4. Every variation of this problem, in both set and actual play, ends with a thematic pin-mate.

One reason for the half-pin’s popularity is its capacity for blending with other themes. Problem 56 features four half-pin defences that are answered by different battery mates. 1.Bg4! has the threat of 2.Rf3, which induces the d4-rook and b6-queen to move from the diagonal line, leaving the other pinned. 1…Rd3 2.cxd3, 1…Qb3 2.cxb3, 1…Rxg4 2.c4 (not 2.c3+? Kf3), and 1…Rf4 2.c3 (not 2.c4+? Bb2). The battery mates are all fired by a white pawn, which on its initial square makes each of its four possible moves in turn – this is the Albino theme. There is by-play, 1…Qc6/b7 2.Bxd4.

The half-pin theme is tripled in Problem 57. Three complete half-pins are the highest number to have been achieved in a two-mover, making this an example of a task problem – a work that attains a maximum effect. The sacrificial key 1.Qe2! threatens 2.Qxf3. The three pairs of main variations are: 1…Rf6 2.Sg5, 1…Rf5 2.Sd6; 1…Sd4 2.Qxe3, 1…Sxc3 2.Qxc4; 1…Bxe2 Sxc5, 1…Bxc3 2.Qd3. That each half-pin line utilises two black pieces of the same type adds further to the unity of this composition. Finally, 1…fxe2 allows 2.f3.

The helpmate 58 illustrates an anticipatory half-pin. That means the half-pin set-up arises only during the course of play, instead of being fully formed in the initial position. Part (a) of this twin is solved by 1.Bb8 Rc6+ 2.Kb5 c4, and part (b) by 1.Bg8 Bc6 2.Kc5 Bf2. The first bishop move in each solution unpins a white piece and also prepares for the other black bishop to be pinned on the fifth rank. Then a white Grimshaw interference on c6 enables the black king to move onto the pin line.

Problem 59 incorporates one white and two black half-pins, the two types entailing different strategy. We have seen how a black half-pin leads to various pin-mates. A white half-pin arrangement in helpmates typically yields the following play: White moves away one of the two pieces on the thematic line, leaving the other pinned, then Black interposes a piece on the line, freeing that second white piece to deliver mate. The solutions here are (a) 1.Bh6 Rg8 2.Rdf3 Sf6, and (b) 1.Qg8 Sf4 2.Rd5 Rh2. Each part culminates in a double pin-mate, in that the mating position requires two black pieces to be pinned in order to be effective. Also, every pair of half-pinned pieces exchange their functions across the two solutions. For example, with the white pair, in (a) the rook guards flights and the knight mates, while in (b) the knight guards a flight and the rook mates.

The white half-pin in directmates tends to be associated with tries. An attempted first move by one of the two aligned pieces fails because of the pin on the remaining white piece, which cannot mate. Problem 60 shows this idea in its anticipatory form. A try by the white queen, for example, does not self-pin the rook immediately, but invites a pinning defence.