--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The defensive power of a pinned piece is…" description: "\"The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary\" — Aron Nimzowitsch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/aron-nimzowitsch-22143_chess_the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is_2528110.png" --- # The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary ![“The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary” quote by Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/aron-nimzowitsch-22143_chess_the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is_2528110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/aron-nimzowitsch-22143_chess_the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is_2528110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/aron-nimzowitsch-22143_chess_the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is_2528110.png) > “The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary” [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The threat of a trapped piece is often a psychological illusion rather than a real tactical danger. **In simple terms:** Pinned pieces seem dangerous but often aren't. Key Takeaway Question the reality of threats before reacting. Themes chess strategy psychology Mood analytical calm Type strategic instructive When to use this quote - tournament play - training drills - game analysis Key Concepts positional play illusion defense Questions to Reflect On - How often do you react to imagined danger? - What evidence supports the threat? A Different Perspective Overreliance on imagined threats can lead to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Chess game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-game/) [Chess pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-pieces/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Pinned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pinned/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactics/) ## Related quotes > [Pinned ya! Pinned ya again! -Nala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-lion-king/pinned-ya-pinned-ya-again-nala/) [The Lion King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-lion-king/) > [“What are you looking for?” The look he gave her pinned her to the spot. “You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-stuart/what-are-you-looking-for-the-look-he-gave-her-pinned-her-to-the-spot/) [Savannah Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-stuart/) > [“A pinned butterfly holds no delight. A pinned butterfly is nothing like a butterfly at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-pinned-butterfly-holds-no-delight-a-pinned-butterfly-is-nothing/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Then you'd have found me pinned beneath a large metal pipe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-morrow/then-you-d-have-found-me-pinned-beneath-a-large-metal-pipe/) [Vic Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-morrow/) > [I tried doing yoga, but I have dislocating shoulders, one of which has been pinned, so I find things such as yoga and pilates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honeysuckle-weeks/i-tried-doing-yoga-but-i-have-dislocating-shoulders-one-of-which-has/) [Honeysuckle Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honeysuckle-weeks/) > [At the age of nine, I could cross the length of Glasgow on a succession of buses, wearing regulation garter-topped stockings and compulsory cap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/at-the-age-of-nine-i-could-cross-the-length-of-glasgow-on-a/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [(After the losses) I decided I had to break through. I had to set a goal. My goal that I set was to never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maynard/after-the-losses-i-decided-i-had-to-break-through-i-had-to-set-a-goal/) [Kyle Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maynard/) > [I just got pinned by a freakin' twelve year old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-angle/i-just-got-pinned-by-a-freakin-twelve-year-old/) [Kurt Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-angle/) > [I don't want to be pinned down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-don-t-want-to-be-pinned-down/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [But that was Isabelle — if there was a boy around and blame that needed to be pinned on someone, Isabelle would pin it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/but-that-was-isabelle-if-there-was-a-boy-around-and-blame-that-needed/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Stop!” I pinned him with a serious look. “No more. Get it out of your head, Kai! We are not running. This is happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/stop-i-pinned-him-with-a-serious-look-no-more-get-it-out-of-your-head/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [My earliest memories are being pinned to a fence with a switchblade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/my-earliest-memories-are-being-pinned-to-a-fence-with-a-switchblade/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Whatever labels are being pinned on me have nothing to do with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skeet-ulrich/whatever-labels-are-being-pinned-on-me-have-nothing-to-do-with-me/) [Skeet Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skeet-ulrich/) > [Memory is imagination pinned down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/memory-is-imagination-pinned-down/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [A romantic is someone who believes that something is valuable even if it doesn't last. And a non-romantic is someone who says that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/a-romantic-is-someone-who-believes-that-something-is-valuable-even-if/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) ## More by Aron Nimzowitsch > [The threat is stronger than the execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-threat-is-stronger-than-the-execution/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [Many men, many styles; what is chess style but the intangible expression of the will to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/many-men-many-styles-what-is-chess-style-but-the-intangible/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [The chess world is obligated to organize a match between the champion of the world and the winner of this Carlsbad tournament - indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-chess-world-is-obligated-to-organize-a-match-between-the-champion/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [No pawn exchanges, no file-opening, no attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/no-pawn-exchanges-no-file-opening-no-attack/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [Chess strategy as such today is still in its diapers, despite Tarrasch's statement 'We live today in a beautiful time of progress in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/chess-strategy-as-such-today-is-still-in-its-diapers-despite-tarrasch/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [Ridicule can do much, for instance embitter the existence of young talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/ridicule-can-do-much-for-instance-embitter-the-existence-of-young/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [The isolated Pawn casts gloom over the entire chessboard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-isolated-pawn-casts-gloom-over-the-entire-chessboard/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [The beauty of a move lies not in its appearance but in the thought behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-beauty-of-a-move-lies-not-in-its-appearance-but-in-the-thought/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [Giving up the center must not here be regarded as illogical. Was happiness no happiness because it endured for just a short time? One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/giving-up-the-center-must-not-here-be-regarded-as-illogical-was/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [If in a battle, I seize a bit of debatable land with a handful of soldiers, without having done anything to prevent an enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/if-in-a-battle-i-seize-a-bit-of-debatable-land-with-a-handful-of/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [The knight of QB3 is under obligation, the moment the enemy gives him the chance, of undertaking an invasion of the center by Kn-Q5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-knight-of-qb3-is-under-obligation-the-moment-the-enemy-gives-him/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [How is it to be explained that something inside me revolts against the playing of obvious moves? Perhaps we may perceive the underlying reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/how-is-it-to-be-explained-that-something-inside-me-revolts-against/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [The beauty of a move lies not in it's appearance but in the thought behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-beauty-of-a-move-lies-not-in-it-s-appearance-but-in-the-thought/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [Strategically important points should be overprotected. If the pieces are so engaged, they get their regard in the fact that they will then find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/strategically-important-points-should-be-overprotected-if-the-pieces/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) > [The great mobility of the King forms one of the chief characteristics of all endgame strategy. In the middlegame the King is a mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-great-mobility-of-the-king-forms-one-of-the-chief-characteristics/) [Aron Nimzowitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) [Explore all 28 Aron Nimzowitsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/) ## More Chess quotes > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) Simen Agdestein > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [“the shadows. “Why do you think they invented chess?” “He’s got you there,” said the captain, following Fletcher. Jake jogged slightly to catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-shadows-why-do-you-think-they-invented-chess-he-s-got-you-there/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) > [ \[Photographer Julian Wasser\] had this great idea that I should play chess naked with Marcel Duchamp and it seem to be such a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/photographer-julian-wasser-had-this-great-idea-that-i-should-play/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Chess is a good mistress but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-abrahams/chess-is-a-good-mistress-but-a-bad-master/) [Gerald Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-abrahams/) > [I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-not-some-sort-of-freak-i-might-be-very-good-at-chess-but-i-m/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/some-sacrifices-are-sound-the-rest-are-mine/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [In high school, my sister went out with the captain of the chess team. My parents loved him... They figured that any guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kiley/in-high-school-my-sister-went-out-with-the-captain-of-the-chess-team/) [Brian Kiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kiley/) > [The King is a fighting piece. Use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/the-king-is-a-fighting-piece-use-it/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Browse all 2,003 Chess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aron Nimzowitsch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is-only-imaginary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chess" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is-only-imaginary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/aron-nimzowitsch-22143_chess_the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is_2528110.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/aron-nimzowitsch-22143_chess_the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is_2528110.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/aron-nimzowitsch-22143_chess_the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is_2528110.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary” — Aron Nimzowitsch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aron Nimzowitsch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-nimzowitsch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The defensive power of a pinned...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is-only-imaginary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-nimzowitsch/the-defensive-power-of-a-pinned-piece-is-only-imaginary/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```