Skewers
Attack a valuable piece so that when it steps aside, the piece behind it falls. A pin turned inside out.
What a skewer is
A skewer attacks two pieces on the same line, with the more valuable one in front. Here the bishop checks the king from g2, and the rook stands behind it on a8. The king has to step out of the line, and the bishop takes the rook. In a pin the bigger piece hides behind; in a skewer it stands in front and is forced to move.
Skewer along the rank
Your turn
Black's king and queen stand on the same rank. Skewer them.
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Ra5+ forces the king off the fifth rank, and the rook takes the queen on g5. A rook for nothing would be good; a queen is even better.
Skewer on the diagonal
Your turn
Find a bishop check that wins Black's queen.
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Bb3+ checks the king, the king leaves the diagonal, and Bxf7 wins the queen.
Skewer or pin?
Question
A white rook attacks Black's queen, and Black's rook stands behind the queen on the same file. What is this?
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A skewer: the valuable queen in front must move, and the rook behind falls
The more valuable piece is in front, so it is a skewer. When the queen steps aside, the rook behind is exposed.
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.
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.