Skewer

Tactic, beginner

A valuable piece is attacked and must move, exposing a piece behind it.

Rook to e8 checks the king on e5. The king has to step off the e-file, and the rook then takes the queen on e2.

A skewer is a pin turned round: the more valuable piece is in front. Long-range pieces (rooks, bishops and queens) skewer.

New to chess? The examples here use it. Play your first moves (five minutes), then learn chess from the beginning, one short lesson at a time.

Practise it here: ten puzzles on this idea, at a level you choose, counted in your progress.

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