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Double attacks
Queens, bishops, rooks and even pawns can attack two things at once.
Beginner · Tactics · 19 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine. With games of Gukesh D, Viswanathan Anand, Divya Deshmukh, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, Vaishali R.
Step 1
Any piece can fork, not just the knight. A queen can attack in eight directions, and a pawn can fork two pieces diagonally. Always look for moves that create two threats at once: the opponent cannot answer both.
Step 2
R Vaishali vs Gukesh D, Super Juniors CB IND Elim 2020. Gukesh from Chennai became the youngest undisputed World Champion in 2024, at just 18. Gukesh D plays Black here. Look at the rook on e5: what can it do?
Step 3
Moves: 56...Re3+
Gukesh D plays the rook from e5 to e3, attacking two targets at once. It pins the bishop on b3. It gives check.
Step 4
Moves: 56...Re3+ 57.Kf4 Rxb3 58.Ke5 Re3+ 59.Kd5 Kf6
The moves: 56...Re3+ 57.Kf4 Rxb3 58.Ke5 Re3+ 59.Kd5 Kf6. At the end of the line, Gukesh D has won the bishop. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
Step 5
Jeroen Piket vs Viswanathan Anand, Amber-blind 7th, Monte Carlo 1998. Viswanathan Anand became India's first grandmaster in 1988 and was World Champion five times. Viswanathan Anand plays Black here. Look at the rook on d5: what can it do?
Step 6
Moves: 44...Rd3+
Viswanathan Anand plays the rook from d5 to d3, attacking two targets at once. It pins the knight on c3. It gives check.
Step 7
Moves: 44...Rd3+ 45.Ke4 Rxc3 46.Rxb5 Rc1 47.Rb6 Rh1
The moves: 44...Rd3+ 45.Ke4 Rxc3 46.Rxb5 Rc1 47.Rb6 Rh1. At the end of the line, Viswanathan Anand has won the knight. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
Step 8
Elizaveta Martynyuk vs Divya Deshmukh, Women's Speed Chess Q4 2020. Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur won the FIDE Women's World Cup in 2025, at 19, and became a grandmaster. Divya Deshmukh plays Black here. Look at the queen on f1: what can it do?
Step 9
Moves: 44...Qxg2+
Divya Deshmukh plays the queen from f1 to g2, attacking two targets at once. It captures the pawn on g2. It pins the bishop on g3. It gives check.
Step 10
Moves: 44...Qxg2+ 45.Kc1 Qxg3 46.Qe8 Qf4+ 47.Kb2 Qf2+
The moves: 44...Qxg2+ 45.Kc1 Qxg3 46.Qe8 Qf4+ 47.Kb2 Qf2+. At the end of the line, Divya Deshmukh has won the bishop. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
Step 11
Praggnanandhaa R vs Fabian Baenziger, 54th Biel Master Open 2021. Praggnanandhaa from Chennai became a grandmaster at 12 and reached the World Cup final in 2023. Praggnanandhaa R plays White here. Look at the rook on g7: what can it do?
Step 12
Moves: 54.Rh7+
Praggnanandhaa R plays the rook from g7 to h7, attacking two targets at once. It pins the bishop on h5. It gives check.
From the game Praggnanandhaa R – Fabian Baenziger, 54th Biel Master Open 2021.
Step 13
Moves: 54.Rh7+ Kg8 55.Rxh5 Ra6 56.Nf3 Rxa2 57.Rxd5
The moves: 54.Rh7+ Kg8 55.Rxh5 Ra6 56.Nf3 Rxa2 57.Rxd5. At the end of the line, Praggnanandhaa R has won the bishop. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Praggnanandhaa R – Fabian Baenziger, 54th Biel Master Open 2021.
Step 14
Arjun Erigaisi vs Armenak Yegiazaryan, 11. Asrian Memorial 2018, Jermuk. Arjun Erigaisi from Warangal became only the second Indian, after Anand, to cross a 2800 rating. Arjun Erigaisi plays White here. Look at the rook on b6: what can it do?
Step 15
Moves: 51.Rxe6+
Arjun Erigaisi plays the rook from b6 to e6, attacking two targets at once. It captures the rook on e6. It pins the bishop on e8. It gives check.
From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Armenak Yegiazaryan, 11. Asrian Memorial 2018, Jermuk .
Step 16
Moves: 51.Rxe6+ Kxe6 52.Kxe8 Ke5 53.Kf7 h5 54.h4
The moves: 51.Rxe6+ Kxe6 52.Kxe8 Ke5 53.Kf7 h5 54.h4. At the end of the line, Arjun Erigaisi has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Armenak Yegiazaryan, 11. Asrian Memorial 2018, Jermuk .
Step 17
Vaishali R vs V Varshini, Asian Juniors Rapid Girls, Delhi 2016. Vaishali, Praggnanandhaa's sister, became India's third woman grandmaster. Vaishali R plays White here. Look at the rook on b5: what can it do?
Step 18
Moves: 52.Rb6+
Vaishali R plays the rook from b5 to b6, attacking two targets at once. It pins the rook on a6. It gives check.
From the game Vaishali R – V Varshini, Asian Juniors Rapid Girls, Delhi 2016.
Step 19
Moves: 52.Rb6+ Rxb6 53.a8=Q Rd6 54.Qe8+ Kf6 55.Qf8+
The moves: 52.Rb6+ Rxb6 53.a8=Q Rd6 54.Qe8+ Kf6 55.Qf8+. The pawn reaches the last rank and becomes a queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Vaishali R – V Varshini, Asian Juniors Rapid Girls, Delhi 2016.
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More lessons in Tactics
- Knight forks: The jumping knight attacks two pieces at once. See the forks Gukesh, Anand, Divya and other stars played.
- Pins: Freeze a piece in front of its king, then win it.
- Skewers: Attack the big piece; when it moves, take the one behind it.
- Discovered attacks: Move one piece out of the way and another one attacks.
- Double check: Two pieces give check at once: the king must run.
- Queen sacrifices: Giving away the strongest piece to force checkmate.
- The Greek gift sacrifice: Bishop takes h7 with check, and the attack on the king begins.
- Winning combinations: Forcing sequences that win material, found by world-class players.
Next lesson: Pins