ChessAnalyzerDiscovered attacks: chess tactics explained, with 8 puzzles
Moving one piece can uncover an attack by the piece behind it. The moving piece is free to make its own threat at the same time, so the opponent faces two problems at once. A discovered check is the strongest version.
Every puzzle below comes from a real game position, and every solution was verified with Stockfish 18: each move you need to find is the only good move — the second-best alternative is at least two pawns worse. Try to solve each one before opening the solution.
Puzzle 1 Beginner
White to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your knight is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
21. Nxb7
Moving the knight from a5 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 21. Nxb7. White wins the queen.
Puzzle 2 Beginner
Black to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your pawn is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
18… fxe6
Moving the pawn from f7 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 18… fxe6. Black wins a piece.
Puzzle 3 Beginner
Black to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your pawn is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
26… dxe3
Moving the pawn from d4 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 26… dxe3. Black wins the queen.
Puzzle 4 Beginner
White to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your knight is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
18. Nxd8
Moving the knight from e6 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 18. Nxd8. White wins the queen.
Puzzle 5 Beginner
White to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your pawn is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
9. dxc6
Moving the pawn from d5 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 9. dxc6. White wins a piece.
Puzzle 6 Beginner
Black to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your pawn is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
14… dxc4
Moving the pawn from d5 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 14… dxc4. Black wins a piece.
Puzzle 7 Beginner
White to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your pawn is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
9. dxc5
Moving the pawn from d4 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 9. dxc5. White wins a piece.
Puzzle 8 Intermediate
White to move. Move one piece and unleash another.
Hint
Your pawn is blocking one of your own lines.
Solution
29. e7+ Qd5 30. Bxd5+
Moving the pawn from e6 opens a line for the piece behind it, creating a second attack in one move. 29. e7+ Qd5 30. Bxd5+. White wins the queen.
Other tactics
Checkmate
A checkmate ends the game at once, so always look for checks first. Count the escape squares around the enemy king: if every one is covered …
Back-rank mate
A king that has castled behind three unmoved pawns has no air. A rook or queen landing on its first rank is mate unless something can block …
Forks
A fork is one piece attacking two or more targets at once. The opponent can only save one of them. Knights are the classic forking piece bec…
Pins
A pin attacks a piece that cannot move without exposing something more valuable behind it. When the piece behind is the king, the pin is abs…
Skewers
A skewer is a pin in reverse: the valuable piece stands in front. When it steps aside, the piece behind it is captured. Rooks, bishops and q…
Trapped pieces
A piece with no safe square is as good as lost. Look for enemy pieces deep in your half or on the edge of the board, attack them, and check …
Removing the defender
If a piece is only defended once, capture or chase away the defender and the piece falls. Ask of every enemy piece: what defends it, and can…