THE SKEWER

Skewer: A skewer is a powerful tactical maneuver in chess that involves attacking two pieces in a
straight line, where the more valuable piece is behind the less valuable one. It's similar to a pin but
works in reverse: in a pin, the valuable piece is in front of the less valuable one, whereas in a skewer,
the valuable piece is behind the less valuable one. The opponent is forced to move the less valuable
piece to get out of the attack, leaving the more valuable piece vulnerable and subject to capture.

Basic Skewer: In a basic skewer, a piece attacks an opponent's piece and threatens to capture a
more valuable piece behind it. The opponent must move the less valuable piece, exposing the more
valuable one to capture.

a b c d e f g h
8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
a b c d e f g h

In this position, White can play 1. Rh8++, skewering the Black king and the rook on a8. Black must
move the king, and White can then capture the rook on the next move.

Long-distance skewer: A long-distance skewer occurs when a piece attacks two pieces that are
not adjacent to each other, often over long diagonals or files.

a b c d e f g h
8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
a b c d e f g h

In this position, White’s Bf3 is putting the black Queen in a long distance skewer. After the queen
moves, white will take the rook and win the exchange..
Chess Kidding Tactics | The Skewer.
Double skewer: A double skewer occurs when a piece attacks two less valuable pieces
simultaneously, with the opponent having no choice but to move one, leading to the capture of the
other.

a b c d e f g h
8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
a b c d e f g h

In this position, White is attacking both the rook and the knight. Both of them are in a skewer. If black
moves the Rook on c4, White will take the Ne6. If Black moves the Knight on e6 then White will take
Rc4.
In an absolute skewer, the king is in check, therefore the check must be handled (under the rules of
chess); whereas in a relative skewer, the pieces involved do not necessarily need to be addressed,
but it is generally disadvantageous to not address the skewered piece.

a b c d e f g h
8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1
a b c d e f g h

Can you figure out what kind of skewer this is? _________________________________________

Motivate your answer: ________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Chess Kidding Tactics | The Skewer.
 FIND THE SKEWER

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

1. White to move 2. White to move

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is: skewer this is:
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

3. White to move. 4. White to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is skewer this is:
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________

Chess Kidding Tactics | The Skewer.

 FIND THE SKEWER

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

5. Black to move. 6. Black to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

7. White to move 8. Black to move

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is: skewer this is:
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________

Chess Kidding Tactics | The Skewer.

 FIND THE SKEWER

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

9. White to move. 10. White to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

11. White to move. 12. White to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is: skewer this is:
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________

Chess Kidding Tactics | The Skewer

 FIND THE SKEWER

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

13. Black to move. 14. White to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

15. White to move. 16. White to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is: skewer this is:
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________

Chess Kidding Tactics | The Skewer

 FIND THE SKEWER

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

17. White to move. 18. White to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

1a b c d e f g h1 1a b c d e f g h1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

19. White to move. 20. White to move.

answer: _____________ answer: _____________

Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of Motivate your answer and indicate what kind of
skewer this is: skewer this is:
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________

Chess Kidding Tactics | The Skewer