1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
Skewer Chess Puzzles
A skewer is the mirror image of a pin: instead of immobilizing the front piece, it forces it to move out of the way, exposing the more valuable piece behind it to capture. Skewers are usually delivered by long-range pieces — rooks, bishops, and queens — along an open rank, file, or diagonal.
Objective
Look for a checking or attacking move that lines up two enemy pieces on the same rank, file, or diagonal.
Understanding Skewers
Look for an enemy piece with something valuable directly behind it on the same line, then find the checking or attacking move that lines both of them up for your rook, bishop, or queen. If the front piece moves to save itself, the piece behind it falls instead.