Exercise 5.1Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♘f8?. Find the move that punishes it.
5
Tactics Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
The Skewer
The pin turned around
In this lesson you will learn
- What a skewer is
- Skewers with check
- Skewers along ranks, files and diagonals
- How the king and queen become skewer victims
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
5.1 The Valuable Piece in Front
A skewer is a pin turned around: the more valuable piece stands in front. When it moves out of the attack, the piece behind it is captured. Skewers are most powerful with check, because the king must move.
Diagram 5.1White to move
Example 5.1 · Bishop skewer
The black king and queen stand on the same diagonal: e5 and g7.
1.♗c3+ checks the king along the long diagonal. The king must step aside, and the queen behind it falls. Look for enemy pieces standing on the same line as their king.
Diagram 5.2White to move
Example 5.2 · Rook skewer in the endgame
A rook ending. Black's king on a6 and rook on a1 stand on the same file.
1.♖a8+ checks along the a-file. The king must leave the file, and the rook on a1 is lost. Endgame skewers are very common: a rook check drives the king away from its rook. Whenever the enemy king and rook can be put on one line, look for a check that does it.
Remember
- A skewer: the more valuable piece stands in front.
- Skewers with check are the strongest.
- Look for the king and queen, or king and rook, on one line.
- Endgames are full of rook skewers.
Exercises · Lesson 5
Every exercise comes from real opening play and has been checked with a chess engine. Find the strongest move and play it on the board.
Exercise 5.2Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 13.♕e2?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 5.3Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 12.♕d3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 5.4Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 15.♗a6?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 5.5Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 11.♕c3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 5.6Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 8.♕f3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 5.7Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.♕f4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 5.8Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 13.♕d3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 5.9Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♗c5?. Find the move that punishes it.