Skewers and x-rays
In short
A skewer is a pin turned around: the more valuable piece is in front. When it moves out of the attack, the piece behind it is captured.
By the end you can
- Find skewers with rook, bishop and queen
- Understand the difference between a pin and a skewer
The lesson
A skewer is a pin turned around: the more valuable piece is in front. When it moves out of the attack, the piece behind it is captured. Checks along a line are the most common skewers, because the king must move.
Long-range pieces on open lines create skewers, so keep your king and queen off the same line as enemy rooks and bishops, especially in the endgame.
Key points to remember
- Skewer: valuable piece in front, target behind
- Checks along lines often skewer
- Keep king and queen off open lines together
Examples
Show the solution
1. Re1+
Show the solution
18... Bxe3+ 19. Rxe3 Qg1+ 20. Kd2 Qxa1
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: skewer puzzles, X-ray attack puzzles.
Homework
15 skewer puzzles.
More tactics lessons
- Hanging pieces: take them and don’t leave them (Novice)
- Double attacks and forks (Novice)
- Pins: pieces that cannot move (Novice)
- Forks with every piece (Class F)
- Using and breaking pins (Class F)
- Discovered attacks and double check (Class F)