Skewer
The reverse of a pin — a valuable piece is attacked and must move, exposing a piece behind it.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: If the pin is a bodyguard who cannot step aside, the skewer is the VIP being shot at directly. The valuable piece must duck for cover, leaving whoever was standing behind them completely exposed. I remember the first time I fell victim to a skewer in a tournament game — my opponent's bishop checked my king, and when I moved it, the bishop captured my rook on the other side of the board. I sat there stunned. It was a humbling lesson, but I never forgot the pattern.
How the Skewer Works
A skewer is one of the fundamental line tactics in chess, closely related to the pin but working in the opposite direction. In a pin, the less valuable piece is in front and shields the more valuable one. In a skewer, the more valuable piece is in front and must move, exposing the less valuable piece behind it to capture.
Like pins, skewers can only be executed by line pieces: bishops, rooks, and queens. The attacking piece aims along a rank, file, or diagonal at a valuable enemy piece. When that piece moves out of the way (because it must, either by rule or by common sense), the attacking piece captures whatever was standing behind it.
The most devastating skewer involves the king. When a long-range piece gives check to the king along a line, the king is forced to move (it has no choice), and whatever stood behind the king on that line is lost. This is called an absolute skewer, because the front piece (the king) has no option but to move.
Skewers involving the queen are also common and equally painful. If a bishop attacks your queen along a diagonal, you must move the queen to save it, but you lose whatever was behind it. The key difference from a pin is the order of value: in a skewer, the more valuable piece takes the direct hit and must flee.
Recognizing skewer patterns is essential for both attack and defense. Offensively, you look for lines where two enemy pieces stand on the same rank, file, or diagonal with the more valuable one in front. Defensively, you avoid placing your pieces in such alignments.
A Classic King Skewer
The most common and powerful skewer involves checking the king to win material behind it. In the position shown, imagine a scenario where White's rook gives check to the Black king along a rank or file. The king must move (it is in check), and the rook then captures the unprotected piece that was standing behind the king.
This pattern occurs frequently in endgames, where the board is open and long-range pieces have clear lines. Rooks are especially effective at skewering because they control entire ranks and files. A rook that enters the seventh or eighth rank can often skewer the king and another piece.
Bishop skewers are also common, particularly when two valuable pieces stand on the same diagonal. A bishop can lurk on the other side of the board and deliver a skewer from a great distance, making these threats harder to see coming.
Queen skewers combine the power of both, as the queen can skewer along ranks, files, and diagonals. However, using the queen for a skewer carries more risk because the queen is so valuable that you must ensure the skewering square is safe.
The key to successful skewers is line control. If you dominate the open lines on the board, skewer opportunities will naturally appear. This is one of many reasons why controlling open files and diagonals is a fundamental principle of chess strategy.
White's rook can exploit the alignment of Black's king and pieces along the e-file.
Skewer vs. Pin: Key Differences
Because skewers and pins are closely related, many students confuse them. Let me clarify the distinction with a simple rule: in a pin, the valuable piece is behind and shielded. In a skewer, the valuable piece is in front and must flee.
Think of it this way. In a pin, the less valuable piece stands between the attacker and the more valuable piece. The less valuable piece is stuck because moving it would expose the valuable piece behind it. The attacker threatens the front piece, but the real pressure is on the piece behind.
In a skewer, the more valuable piece is directly attacked. It must move because it is under fire, and when it does, the piece behind it becomes exposed. The attacker threatens the front piece directly, and the secondary target is the piece revealed when the front piece retreats.
Here is another way to remember: pins freeze the front piece in place. Skewers force the front piece to flee. Both exploit the alignment of two pieces on the same line, but the direction of the value gradient is reversed.
Understanding this distinction helps you communicate clearly about chess positions and also helps you recognize the different defensive requirements. Against a pin, you want to break the alignment or defend the pinned piece. Against a skewer, you want to avoid the alignment in the first place or ensure that the piece behind your valuable piece is adequately protected.
Avoiding Skewers in Your Games
Prevention is the best defense against skewers. Once a skewer is delivered, the damage is usually unavoidable. Here are practical guidelines for keeping your pieces safe from skewer attacks.
First, be conscious of piece alignment. Every time you move a piece, notice whether it lands on the same rank, file, or diagonal as another one of your pieces — especially if the piece behind is less valuable. If your king and rook are on the same diagonal, an enemy bishop can skewer them. Awareness of these alignments is your first line of defense.
Second, keep your valuable pieces off open lines when possible. An open file or diagonal is an invitation for long-range tactics. If the position requires your king or queen to sit on an open line, make sure the squares behind them are empty or occupied by pieces you can afford to lose.
Third, use intermediate squares wisely. Sometimes you can place a less important piece between two valuable pieces on the same line, converting a potential skewer into a much less dangerous situation.
Fourth, in the endgame, be especially vigilant. Endgames have fewer pieces, which means more open lines and more skewer opportunities. When the board opens up, the risk of skewers increases dramatically. Keep track of which lines the opponent's rooks and bishops control, and avoid walking your king into a skewer.
Remember: the best way to handle a skewer is to never let it happen. By staying aware of piece alignments, you can sidestep this tactic before it materializes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a skewer in chess?
A skewer is a line tactic where a valuable piece is attacked and forced to move, exposing a less valuable piece behind it on the same rank, file, or diagonal to capture. It is the reverse of a pin, where the value order is flipped.
How do you use a skewer in a game?
Look for situations where two enemy pieces stand on the same line with the more valuable piece in front. Aim a bishop, rook, or queen at the front piece to force it to move, then capture the piece behind it. King skewers (giving check) are especially effective since the king must move.
Professor Archer says: To spot skewers, always check what lies behind a valuable piece on the same line. When you move your king or queen, ask: is there a piece behind me on this rank, file, or diagonal that could be captured? That one question will save you from countless skewer traps.
Quick Quiz
What is the key difference between a skewer and a pin?
- A skewer can only be done by a queen, while a pin can be done by any piece - Both skewers and pins can be executed by bishops, rooks, and queens — any piece that moves in a straight line.
- In a skewer, the more valuable piece is in front and must move away (Correct) - Correct. In a skewer, the more valuable piece is attacked directly and must move, exposing a less valuable piece behind it. In a pin, the less valuable piece is in front, shielding the more valuable one behind.
- Skewers only work along diagonals, while pins work along any line - Both skewers and pins work along ranks, files, and diagonals. Any straight line on the board can support either tactic.
- Skewers are only possible in the endgame - Skewers can occur in any phase of the game, though they are indeed more common in the endgame when the board is more open.