X-ray attacks: pressure straight through an enemy piece
An x-ray is a long-range piece exerting influence through another piece onto whatever lies behind it. Nothing is captured yet — the point is what happens once the piece in the middle disappears.
X-rays work on defence too: a rook can 'defend' a piece through an enemy rook, so a capture sequence ends in your favour even though the defence looks blocked.
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How to spot it
- Count attackers and defenders along the whole line, not just up to the first piece.
- Before a capture sequence, check what stands behind the target — that is what the x-ray collects.
- Stack rooks and queen on one file so every trade keeps the pressure alive.
Practise this pattern
Play the winning move on a real board in verified x-ray attack positions, with hints and worked solutions.
Start the exercisesHow to defend against it
- Step off the line with the piece behind, so the x-ray hits nothing.
- Block the line with a piece that is genuinely defended.
- Exchange the x-raying piece before opening the line.
Common mistakes
- Counting attackers only up to the blocking piece, and losing an exchange you thought was safe.
- Assuming an x-ray is already a pin — it only becomes one when the back piece is worth more.
Frequently asked questions
- Is an x-ray the same as a pin or a skewer?
- They are related. X-ray describes the line through a piece; whether it functions as a pin or a skewer depends on which piece is more valuable.
- Can an x-ray be defensive?
- Yes. A rook can support a piece through an enemy piece, so after the exchanges you recapture and come out ahead.