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Discovered attacks

Move one piece out of the way and unleash the one behind it. When the hidden piece gives check, it is a discovered check.

Beginner6 min

The hidden attacker

White's bishop on b2 aims at the rook on h8, but its own knight on d4 is in the way. When the knight jumps, the bishop's attack is uncovered. That is a discovered attack: two threats from one move. Here the knight jumps with check, so Black must save the king, and the bishop takes the rook.

The hidden attacker abcdefgh12345678

Discovered check

Your turn

Move the bishop off the e-file with check, and attack the queen at the same time.

Show the answer

Bc2+ uncovers the rook's check on the e-file, and the bishop now eyes the queen through b3. Black must answer the check, so Bxa4 wins the queen.

Discovered check abcdefgh12345678

Take with check

Your turn

Your rook and Black's queen face each other on the e-file. Win the queen.

Show the answer

Bxh7+ is check from the bishop and uncovers the rook on the queen. Black has to deal with the check, and Rxe8+ takes the queen.

Take with check abcdefgh12345678

Why it works

Question

Why are discovered checks so strong?

  • The piece that moves can go almost anywhere and grab something, because the opponent must answer the check first
  • A discovered check can never be blocked
  • The moving piece cannot be captured
Show the answer

The piece that moves can go almost anywhere and grab something, because the opponent must answer the check first

The check comes from the piece behind, so the moving piece is free to attack, capture or even hang itself. The opponent only has time for the king.

More in Tactics

The knight fork One knight, two targets. Learn to spot squares where a knight attacks the king and a valuable piece at once. Pins A pinned piece cannot move without exposing something behind it. Learn to pin, and to win the pinned piece. Skewers Attack a valuable piece so that when it steps aside, the piece behind it falls. A pin turned inside out.