Skewering
Skewering (also known as an X-ray attack) is a chess tactic. To skewer is to attack a valuable piece with a less valuable piece behind it. Your opponent then moves the more valuable piece out of the way, begrudgingly allowing you to capture the piece of lesser value.[1]
In other words, as with forking, you're essentially forcing your opponent to choose which piece you're going to take, by giving them the option of moving only one such piece out of the way in time. Unlike forking, as the attack is in only one direction, your opponent's inaction on the matter is also a choice which limits which piece you can take... although usually they'd be wise to move the more valuable piece out of the way, and let you take the less valuable piece instead.
As with pinning and discovered attacks, skewering can only be performed by pieces that can routinely move a variable distance — in other words, the line pieces.
References
- "The X-ray attack, or skewer attack, is the opposite of the pin. In the X-ray attack, a piece attacks a hostile piece which is situated on a line with another piece of lesser value. When the attacked piece moves off the line, it exposes the second piece to capture." 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations Fred Reinfeld, 1955, ISBN 0-87980-111-5, p. 151
Further reading
Practice
- "Practice: The Skewer" Lichess
Tactics: Discovered check | Double check | Forking | Pinning | Protection | Skewering
