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Tactics

Skewer

A pin in reverse — the valuable piece is in front and must move, exposing the piece behind.

You check or attack a valuable piece along a line; when it steps aside, the piece behind it is captured. A queen skewered to a rook, or a king skewered to a queen, wins material on the spot.

Like the pin, only bishops, rooks, and queens can skewer, because it needs a straight line.

Why it matters

Skewers end many endgames: a rook checks the enemy king, the king steps away, and the rook grabs the piece that was hiding behind it.

The mistake everyone makes

Putting your king and queen on the same rank, file, or diagonal in an open position without checking whether a single check wins the queen.

Related terms

Pin
A piece that cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it.
Fork
One piece attacking two or more enemy pieces at the same time.
Tactic
A short, forcing sequence of moves that wins material or delivers mate.

See Skewer in your own games

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