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Tactics

Battery

Two pieces lined up on the same file, rank or diagonal so their power stacks.

A battery is two long-range pieces — rooks doubled on a file, a queen behind a rook, or a queen and bishop on a diagonal — aimed at the same target. The pieces support each other, so the enemy can't simply trade the front one off without facing the second.

The queen-and-bishop battery pointed at h7 (or h2) is the classic attacking weapon; doubled rooks on an open file are the classic way to invade.

Why it matters

Batteries turn a single attacker into an unstoppable one. Learning to build them — and to spot the enemy building one against your king — is core middlegame technique.

The mistake everyone makes

Putting the queen in front of the rook when you wanted maximum pressure; usually the rook goes in front so the queen isn't the piece that gets traded or chased.

Related terms

Open file
A file with no pawns on it — ideal territory for rooks.
Pin
A piece that cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it.
Initiative
The ability to make threats the opponent must answer, keeping them reacting rather than acting.
King safety
How exposed your king is to attack — usually the most important factor in the middlegame.

See Battery in your own games

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