Discovered Attack - chess tactic
Discovered Attack
Definition
A discovered attack occurs when one piece moves away and “uncovers” the line of fire for another friendly piece that was previously blocked. If the newly revealed line threatens an enemy piece, the result is an attack; if it threatens the king, it is a discovered check, a particularly forcing subset of the same idea. Because the moved piece may itself give an additional threat, discovered attacks can strike on two fronts at once and are among the most powerful tactical motifs in chess.
How It Works
Imagine three pieces on the same file, rank, or diagonal:
- The rear piece (the one farthest from the enemy) is the discovering piece; it is currently blocked.
- The front piece (closer to the enemy) is the moving piece; when it vacates its square it “opens the door.”
- The target (an enemy piece or king) sits somewhere along the newly opened line.
After the front piece moves away:
- The rear piece immediately attacks down the cleared line.
- The moving piece may deliver a second, independent threat (capture, check, or mate), creating a deadly double attack.
Strategic Significance
Because a discovered attack uses only one tempo to create at least one (often two) threats, it can win material or force checkmate out of seemingly calm positions. Players look for discovered attacks when:
- Pieces are “loaded” on the same line (e.g., rook behind bishop on an open file).
- A pinned piece cannot move, making the discovered attack even more potent.
- The moving piece can land with gain of time (check, capture, or fork).
Mastery of the theme transforms middlegame play and appears frequently in endgames where long-range pieces dominate.
Historical & Theoretical Notes
• 19th-century romantics such as Adolf Anderssen and Paul Morphy dazzled audiences with spectacular
discovered attacks, helping popularize open, tactical chess.
• The motif often decides games at every level—from scholastic tournaments to World Championship matches—because even elite grandmasters may overlook a hidden line when preoccupied with the moving piece’s threat.
Classic Patterns
- Bishop in front of rook: A fianchettoed bishop steps away to expose a rook on the long diagonal or file.
- Knight in front of queen: A central knight hops to deliver a fork while the queen suddenly attacks a loose piece.
- Pawn push discovery: A pawn advances one square, unveiling a rook, bishop, or queen behind it (common in the Benoni and King’s Indian Defenses).
Illustrative Mini-Example
Position after 1…d5 in a scholastic game (White to move):
White: King g1, Queen d1, Rooks d1&f1, Bishop c4, Knight c3, Pawns e4 f2 g2 h2 Black: King g8, Queen d8, Rooks a8&f8, Bishop c8, Knight f6, Pawns d5 e6 g7 h7
2. exd5! —The bishop on c4 captures a pawn and opens the d-file. Now the rook on d1 attacks the Black queen on d8, a classic discovered attack. Black cannot both recapture the pawn and save the queen, so material is lost.
Famous Games Featuring Discovered Attacks
- Anderssen vs. Kieseritzky, “Immortal Game,” London 1851 17. Bc4+! is a discovered check that begins the brilliant mating combination.
- Lasker vs. Bauer, Amsterdam 1889 Lasker’s 17. Bxh7+!! unveils the queen on d1 against the knight on d5, winning material and the game.
- Anand vs. Topalov, World Championship 2010, Game 9 30. Rxd5! discovered an attack on the Black queen while simultaneously threatening …Bc3#, forcing capitulation.
Interactive PGN Snapshot
A short constructed line that ends with a textbook discovery:
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The term “discovered” mirrors 18th-century scientific jargon—something hidden is suddenly revealed.
- A triple-discovered attack is theoretically possible (one move unveiling two separate pieces), but extremely rare. The Cuban master José Raúl Capablanca once remarked he had seen it only once in serious play.
- Engines excel at spotting discovered attacks; many famous human blunders arise because the eye follows the moving piece and forgets what now lies behind it.
Take-Away Tips
- When your pieces sit on the same line, always ask, “If the front one moved with tempo, what would the rear one hit?”
- Before moving a piece in front of an enemy battery, check whether you are allowing your opponent a discovered attack.
- Use pins to immobilize enemy pieces; a pinned piece cannot respond to a discovered blow.