Worksheet: Discovered Attacks

A discovered attack happens when moving one piece out of the way reveals an attack from a different piece behind it.

Why This Matters

• Sometimes a piece is quietly blocking one of your own pieces from attacking something powerful.
• Moving the blocking piece away can "discover" a check or attack from the piece behind it.
• The strongest discovered attacks let the moving piece do something useful too, like capture or fork, while the revealed piece checks the king.

Practice Tasks

1. Explain why a discovered check can be more dangerous than a normal check.
2. In the mini-game position, name a friendly piece that is blocking another one of your pieces.
3. Solve the 3 discovered-attack puzzles and write which piece delivered the hidden check each time.

Board Evolution (One Step per Board)

Practice Positions

Find each move on paper, then check the Answer Key at the end.

Mini-Game

Play this position with a partner. Before moving any piece, check whether it is blocking one of your other pieces from attacking something valuable.

Answer Key

1. The moving piece is free to do something else (capture, fork, or attack) while the revealed piece delivers check at the same time.
2. Answers will vary based on the position reached.
3. Position 1: rook. Position 2: bishop. Position 3: queen.

Practice Position Solutions

1. Practice 1: Nc3+ — Once the knight steps off the a-file, the rook on a1 has a clear line straight to the black king on a8 - a discovered check from the rook, not the knight.
2. Practice 2: Nd3+ — Moving the knight off the a2-h8 diagonal uncovers the bishop's attack on the black king - a discovered check.
3. Practice 3: Bc5+ — Moving the bishop off the a1-h8 diagonal uncovers the queen's attack on the black king - a discovered check.