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Basic Tactics

The Discovered Attack

A discovered attack is when one piece moves out of the way of another, revealing the second piece's attack on an enemy piece. Discovered attacks often involve discovered checks, double attacks, and / or double checks. Let's make sense of all this with some examples.

Examine the board below:

By playing Bxb6! White's Bishop reveals a discovered attack upon the Black Queen by the White Rook. The Black Queen must move to safety, giving the White Bishop time to move away from the reach of the Black a-pawn, and White has won the Black Knight free and clear. Click here for a demonstration.

Examine the board below:

By playing Bc4+! White's Bishop reveals a discovered attack upon the Black Rook by the White Rook. The Black King must move out of check, and the White Rook captures the Black Rook for free. Click here for a demonstration.

Examine the board below:

By playing Nc5+! White's Knight reveals a discovered check upon the Black King by the White Bishop. The Black King must move out of check, and the White Knight captures the Black Queen for free. Click here for a demonstration.

Examine the board below:

By playing Ra3! White's Rook both attacks the Black Bishop and reveals a discovered attack upon the Black Rook by the White Queen -- a double attack. Black can only move one piece to safety, and White captures the other Black piece for free. Click here for a demonstration.

Examine the board below:

By playing Be5++! White's Bishop both delivers check on the Black King and reveals a discovered check upon the Black King by the White Rook -- a double check. Notice that if the White Rook were the only piece delivering check, Black could play ... Qxg1; if the White Bishop were the only piece delivering check, Black could play ...Qxe5; but since this is a double check, neither single capture will remove both checks. Thus, the Black King must move out of check, and the White Bishop captures the Black Queen for free. Click here for a demonstration.

Examine the board below:

Is Bd5 a discovered attack? No, this is merely "hanging a piece" -- White has simply left the White Rook open for capture (and the White King subject to checkmate) by ...Rxf1#! Click here for a demonstration.

Next: Intro to Sacrifices and Combinations