Worksheet: Skewers

A skewer attacks a valuable piece that must move out of the way, exposing a less valuable piece behind it to be captured.

Why This Matters

• A skewer is like a pin in reverse: the bigger piece is in front and must move, uncovering the smaller piece behind it.
• Skewers are often delivered with a check, since the king must move and cannot ignore it.
• After the forced move, remember to actually capture the piece that was hiding behind - that is the point of the skewer.

Practice Tasks

1. Explain the difference between a pin and a skewer.
2. In the mini-game position, is there a piece lined up behind the black king on a file, rank, or diagonal?
3. Solve the 3 skewer puzzles and write down the forced reply move for each.

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. Look for any check that would force the king to move and expose another piece behind it - that is a skewer.

Answer Key

1. In a pin the less valuable piece is in front; in a skewer the more valuable piece is in front and forced to move.
2. Answers will vary based on the position reached.
3. See practice positions above for each puzzle's forced reply and follow-up capture.

Practice Position Solutions

1. Practice 1: Ra8+ Ke7 Rxh8 — Ra8+ checks the king on the back rank. The pawns on d7 and f7 block every other escape square, so Ke7 is forced. Once the king steps off the 8th rank, the rook captures the queen on h8 — a skewer.
2. Practice 2: Ra8+ Ke7 Rxg8 — Ra8+ checks the king along the 8th rank. With d7 and f7 blocked by pawns, Ke7 is the only legal reply. That clears the rank so the rook can capture the rook on g8 next move.
3. Practice 3: Qa8+ Ke7 Qxh8 — Qa8+ checks the king along the back rank, and the pawns on d7/f7 leave Ke7 as the only escape. Once the king steps aside, the queen captures the bishop on h8 — the same skewer idea, with a queen instead of a rook.