Tactic · intermediate
Skewers in chess
A skewer is a reversed pin: attack the valuable piece first, then take what stands behind it.
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What a skewer is
A skewer is a reversed pin: attack the valuable piece first, then take what stands behind it.
2 puzzles, solved
Bishop Skewer (intermediate, White to move)add
A skewer is a reversed pin: attack the valuable piece first, then take what stands behind it. Solution: 1.Bf3+ Ke5 2.Bxb7. Bf3+ checks the king along the long diagonal. Once the king steps aside, the rook on b7 behind it is exposed, and Bxb7 wins it. With a skewer, the front piece must move because it's worth more.
Rook Skewer: Win the Queen (intermediate, White to move)add
King and queen on the same rank? Check the king and collect the queen. Solution: 1.Ra5+ Kf6 2.Rxh5. Ra5+! The king must leave the 5th rank, and Rxh5 wins the queen. Watch for enemy pieces lined up behind their king.
How to spot it in your games
- Attack the valuable piece and win what's behind it.
- The king on d5 and rook on b7 share a diagonal. Check along it.
- Your rook, the enemy king and the enemy queen can all be on the 5th rank.