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Chess Tactical Motifs - The Skewer

A Skewer is an attack on two pieces that are lined up with one another. The first piece is the more valuable piece. When it moves out of the way, the less valuable piece behind it is captured. Two pieces of equal value can also be Skewered.

Skewers are very similar to pins. In fact, you can think of a Skewer as a flipped Pin. In a pin, the less valuable piece is in the front. In a Skewer, the more valuable piece is in the front.

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White to Play.

Here's an example. In the diagram, the black King and Queen are lined up. White can play 1. Rd1+. This move Skewers the black King and Queen. The King is in check, and must move out of the way. The Rook can then capture the black Queen.

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White to Play.

Here's another example. The two black Rooks are lined up on a diagonal. White can skewer the Rooks with 1. Be4. Black must defend by moving one of the Rooks. Play might continue: 1... Rba7 2. Bxa8 Rxa8. White wins a Rook for a Bishop.

The next page has some Skewer exercises to work through.

Back - Next
Chess Tactics - Table of Contents
Introduction - What Are Tactics?
Piece Safety - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Counting - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Tactical Motifs Introduction
The Fork - Exercises
The Knight Fork - Exercises
The Pin - Exercises
The Skewer - Exercises
The Discovered Attack - Exercises
Removal of the Guard - Exercises
Back Rank Checkmates - Exercises (1) - Exercises (2)
Conclusion

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