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Skewers
Attack the big piece; when it moves, take the one behind it.
Intermediate · 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, Vaishali R, Harika Dronavalli, Vidit Gujrathi.
Step 1
A skewer is a pin turned around. You attack a valuable piece, like the king or queen, and behind it on the same line stands another piece. The valuable piece must move away, and you capture the piece behind it.
Step 2
Abdulla Gadimbayli vs Gukesh D, 8th Gashimov Mem Blitz, Baku 2022. Gukesh from Chennai became the youngest undisputed World Champion in 2024, at just 18. Gukesh D plays Black here. Look at the queen on c6: what can it do?
Step 3
Moves: 56...Qh1+
Gukesh D plays the queen to h1: the front piece must move, and the one behind falls. It pins the bishop on h2. It gives check.
Step 4
Moves: 56...Qh1+ 57.Kf2 Qg2+ 58.Ke3 Qf3#
The moves: 56...Qh1+ 57.Kf2 Qg2+ 58.Ke3 Qf3#. And it ends in checkmate. Brilliant! Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Abdulla Gadimbayli – Gukesh D, 8th Gashimov Mem Blitz, Baku 2022.
Step 5
Viswanathan Anand vs Anatoly Karpov, Amber-blind 5th, Monte Carlo 1996. Viswanathan Anand became India's first grandmaster in 1988 and was World Champion five times. Viswanathan Anand plays White here. Look at the queen on g8: what can it do?
Step 6
Moves: 51.Qg3+
Viswanathan Anand plays the queen to g3: the front piece must move, and the one behind falls. It pins the pawn on e5. It gives check.
From the game Viswanathan Anand – Anatoly Karpov, Amber-blind 5th, Monte Carlo 1996.
Step 7
Moves: 51.Qg3+ Kd2 52.Qxc3+ Kxc3 53.h8=Q Kd4 54.Qf6
The moves: 51.Qg3+ Kd2 52.Qxc3+ Kxc3 53.h8=Q Kd4 54.Qf6. 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 Viswanathan Anand – Anatoly Karpov, Amber-blind 5th, Monte Carlo 1996.
Step 8
L Albertini vs Divya Deshmukh, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023. 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 rook on c8: what can it do?
Step 9
Moves: 27...Rcxc1+
Divya Deshmukh plays the rook to c1: the front piece must move, and the one behind falls. It captures the knight on c1. It gives check.
Step 10
Moves: 27...Rcxc1+ 28.Ka2 Rxa1+ 29.Kb3 Rd8 30.Kc2 b5
The moves: 27...Rcxc1+ 28.Ka2 Rxa1+ 29.Kb3 Rd8 30.Kc2 b5. At the end of the line, Divya Deshmukh has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
Step 11
Vaishali R vs Bhakti Kulkarni, 42. IND Championship w 2015, Kolkata. Vaishali, Praggnanandhaa's sister, became India's third woman grandmaster. Vaishali R plays White here. Look at the rook on h7: what can it do?
Step 12
Moves: 44.Rh6+
Vaishali R plays the rook to h6: the front piece must move, and the one behind falls. It pins the pawn on h5. It gives check.
From the game Vaishali R – Bhakti Kulkarni, 42. IND Championship w 2015, Kolkata .
Step 13
Moves: 44.Rh6+ Ke7 45.Rxb6 Bxe4+ 46.Kf2 axb6 47.Kxe1
The moves: 44.Rh6+ Ke7 45.Rxb6 Bxe4+ 46.Kf2 axb6 47.Kxe1. At the end of the line, Vaishali R has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Vaishali R – Bhakti Kulkarni, 42. IND Championship w 2015, Kolkata .
Step 14
Harika Dronavalli vs K Kulon, Holuj-Radzikowska Basque, Wroclaw 2018. Harika Dronavalli won bronze at the Women's World Championship three times. Harika Dronavalli plays White here. Look at the rook on f7: what can it do?
Step 15
Moves: 46.Rc7+
Harika Dronavalli plays the rook to c7: the front piece must move, and the one behind falls. It gives check.
From the game Harika Dronavalli – K Kulon, Holuj-Radzikowska Basque, Wroclaw 2018.
Step 16
Moves: 46.Rc7+ Kb5 47.Rxc3 f5+ 48.gxf5 Re8+ 49.Kf3
The moves: 46.Rc7+ Kb5 47.Rxc3 f5+ 48.gxf5 Re8+ 49.Kf3. At the end of the line, Harika Dronavalli has won the bishop. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Harika Dronavalli – K Kulon, Holuj-Radzikowska Basque, Wroclaw 2018.
Step 17
A Gutenev vs Vidit Gujrathi, Titled Tuesday (online) 2020. Vidit Gujrathi from Nashik helped India win the Chess Olympiad gold in 2024. Vidit Gujrathi plays Black here. Look at the rook on a5: what can it do?
Step 18
Moves: 55...Ra1+
Vidit Gujrathi plays the rook to a1: the front piece must move, and the one behind falls. It gives check.
Step 19
Moves: 55...Ra1+ 56.Kb2 Rxg1 57.Re8+ Kf4 58.c4 Bxc4
The moves: 55...Ra1+ 56.Kb2 Rxg1 57.Re8+ Kf4 58.c4 Bxc4. At the end of the line, Vidit Gujrathi has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
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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.
- Double attacks: Queens, bishops, rooks and even pawns can attack two things at once.
- Pins: Freeze a piece in front of its king, then win 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: Discovered attacks