Skewers - Chess tactic

Skewer

Definition

A skewer is a long-range tactical motif in which a line-moving piece—usually a bishop, rook, or queen—attacks two enemy pieces that stand on the same rank, file, or diagonal. The more valuable piece stands in front and must move out of check (or out of capture), thereby exposing the less valuable piece behind it to capture. In effect, the front piece is “pinned” only until it steps away, at which point the piece in the rear is skewered—much like food sliding off a kebab stick once the leading morsel is removed.

How It Is Used in Play

• The skewer is a forcing tactic: the opponent’s reply is virtually dictated because the king or higher-value piece is under direct threat.
• Typical execution:
  1. Create an open line (rank, file, or diagonal) toward a valuable enemy piece.
  2. Place your bishop, rook, or queen on that line to give check or pose a decisive threat.
  3. When the front piece evacuates, capture the now-undefended rear piece and often win material or deliver mate.
• Unlike a pin, a skewer forces movement of the stronger piece; the weaker piece is the intended target.

Strategic Significance

• Material Gain: A successful skewer usually nets at least a piece, frequently a rook or queen.
• Endgame Power: In simplified positions, rooks and bishops excel at skewering an exposed king and winning a loose pawn or piece.
• Deflection & Decoy: Even when no piece is won outright, the threat of a skewer can lure a key defender away from its post.
• Psychological Edge: Because the tactic is so forcing, a missed skewer often becomes a memorable blunder, adding pressure in time-trouble.

Typical Patterns & Set-ups

• Rook on an open file with the enemy king in front of an unprotected rook or queen (e.g., ...Rc1+).
• Bishop on the long diagonal a1–h8 or h1–a8 skewering king and rook after castling.
• Queen skewer from the side: Qe1+ forces Kf2, then Qxe4 winning a loose piece.
• End-game rook skewer: Rb8+ drives the king off the back rank, then Rxb2 picks up a pawn.

Illustrative Example 1 – Classic Bishop Skewer

Position (visualise): White king g1, queen d1, rooks a1 & f1, bishop b2, knight f3; Black king g7, queen d8, rook e8, bishop g7 on the a1–h8 diagonal.
Black to move finds 1… Bxb2! 2. Rb1 Bf6—but after 2. Rb1 Bxf3! the white queen on d1, now exposed behind the rook on f1, is skewered and lost.

Illustrative Example 2 – Rook Skewer from a Famous Game

Fischer – Benko, Candidates 1962 (Stockholm): After 29… Rc1+! 30. Rxc1 Qxc1+, the white rook on f1 is lost. Fischer resigned three moves later—proof that even the greats can be felled by a timely skewer.

Historical & Fun Facts

• The word “skewer” entered English chess literature in the 19^th century, popularised by the writings of Howard Staunton.
• Grandmaster David Bronstein humorously called the skewer “the big brother of the pin” in his annotations to the 1953 Candidates tournament.
• Computers excel at spotting skewers; in the celebrated Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1997 match, the machine’s evaluation hinged on a potential rook skewer in Game 2.

Training Tips

• Keep your heavy pieces on protected squares behind your king, especially on open files and diagonals.
• When attacking, actively search for ways to clear lines—exchange minor pieces or advance pawns to open the path for a skewer.
• Practise end-game studies that feature rook and bishop skewers to sharpen your tactical radar.

In a Nutshell

The skewer is one of the most lethal tactical weapons in chess: simple in concept, devastating in execution. Learning to recognise the tell-tale alignment of two enemy pieces along a line—and to avoid presenting that alignment yourself—will win you countless games.