Chess Skewers – Powerful Tactical Motif
A skewer is a powerful tactical motif often described as a "reverse pin." It occurs when you attack a valuable piece, forcing it to move and exposing a target behind it. Unlike a pin, the more valuable piece is in front, making the skewer a deadly geometric weapon for winning material in the middlegame and endgame.
Simple Skewer Prelude (The Classic Pattern)
A Skewer is sometimes called a “reverse pin.” You attack a more valuable piece first (usually the King), forcing it to move — and then you win the piece behind it.
Basic Rook Skewer
Textbook PatternThe King must move. After that, the Queen on d8 is lost.
Think of it as a "Reverse Pin."
More Skewer Examples
A skewer is a tactical motif where a more valuable piece is attacked first and forced to move, exposing a less valuable piece behind it. Unlike a pin, the front piece cannot stay in place and must step aside, allowing material to be won. The examples below show how skewers are created and how they are converted into concrete gains.
1. Powerful passed pawn
De Boer vs van MilQxd8 2. Qxf6 Qxf6 3. Bg5 (or 1.Qxf6 Qxf6 2.Bg5) 1-0
2. Pleasing geometry
Mecking vs TanKxf7 2.Rxc7+, Qxc7 3. Qh7+
3. Ivanchuk vs. Mamedyarov
Ivanchuk vs Mamedyarov2.Kd3 (2.Qxc5 Qg1+ wins the queen) 2...Qf3+ 3.Kd2 Be3+ {and white resigned because of inevitable mate e.g.} 4.Ke1 Qf2+ 5.Kd1 Qd2 mate
4. King on walkabout
Romanishin vs DorfmanKxg5 2. Nxf7+ wins the Q
5. Szaudler vs. Omuralijev
Szaudler vs Omuralijev{fork} Bxd6 2.Qd2 {skewer - wins either B or N}