What is a skewer in chess?
A skewer is a pin turned back to front. The valuable piece stands in front, gets attacked, and has to move — which exposes the piece behind it to capture.
Like the pin, only the long-range pieces can skewer: rooks and queens along ranks and files, bishops and queens along diagonals. The victim is usually a king or a queen, because those are the pieces that cannot afford to stay where they are.
The most reliable version is the skewer with check. Put a rook on the same file as the enemy king with the queen behind it, and the king must step aside — he has no choice — leaving the queen to be taken next move. That is why loose pieces sitting on the same line as your king are so dangerous: your opponent does not need a clever plan, just one checking move.
- Skewer: the valuable piece is in front and must move, exposing the piece behind.
- Only rooks, bishops and queens can skewer.
- A skewer with check is close to unstoppable — the king must move.
- Kings and queens are the usual victims.
- Keep your king and queen off the same line as an enemy rook or bishop.
Practise on a real board
2 short exercises. Nothing to install and no account needed — make the move on the board and the lesson checks it for you.
More about this
What is a skewer in chess?
An attack on a valuable piece that forces it to move, exposing a piece of lower or equal value directly behind it on the same line. The piece behind is then captured.
What is the difference between a skewer and a pin?
They are mirror images. In a pin, the less valuable piece is in front and is frozen because something more valuable sits behind it. In a skewer, the more valuable piece is in front, is attacked, and must move — giving up whatever stands behind it.
Which pieces can skewer?
Only the sliding pieces: rooks and queens along ranks and files, bishops and queens along diagonals. Knights, pawns and kings cannot skewer because they do not attack along a line.
How do you defend against a skewer?
Avoid lining up two valuable pieces on the same rank, file or diagonal, especially with your king. If you are already skewered, look for a counter-check or a way to block the line — or accept the loss and defend the resulting endgame.
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