Skewers: hitting the big piece so the small one falls
A skewer is a pin turned around. The valuable piece stands in front, so when it moves out of the attack, the piece behind it is captured.
Skewers are decisive in rook and queen endgames, where a single check along an open file or long diagonal can pick off a rook that was standing behind the king.
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How to spot it
- Look for the enemy king and a rook or queen on the same file, rank or diagonal.
- Checks that also touch a second piece behind the king are the classic skewer pattern.
- In endgames, walk your rook to the open file first — the skewer appears once the king is forced onto it.
Practise this pattern
Play the winning move on a real board in verified skewer positions, with hints and worked solutions.
Start the exercisesHow to defend against it
- Keep the king and rook on different lines, especially in simplified endgames.
- Answer the check with a block that also defends the piece behind.
- Look for a counter-check or a capture that breaks the line before it forms.
Common mistakes
- Skewering a piece that is defended, so the capture at the end wins nothing.
- Confusing a skewer with a pin and letting the front piece move away with tempo.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a pin and a skewer?
- In a pin, the more valuable piece is behind. In a skewer, it is in front and must move, exposing the piece behind it.
- Which pieces can skewer?
- Only the long-range pieces: bishops, rooks and queens.