Chess tactics
What Is a Discovered Attack in Chess?
A discovered attack happens when a piece moves off a line and uncovers an attack by a bishop, rook, or queen standing behind it. The moving piece can make its own threat at the same time, so the opponent faces two problems at once.
Example
1. Nxf6+ Bxf6 2. Rxd8 Rxd8
The knight on d5 blocks the rook's line to the queen on d8. Nxf6+ moves it with check, so Black has to deal with the check first, and Rxd8 wins the queen for a rook.
How a discovered attack works
Two of your pieces line up: a long-range piece behind and a blocking piece in front. When the front piece moves, the back piece attacks whatever is on the line. The front piece can go almost anywhere, so it can capture something, give check, or attack a second target.
That freedom is what makes the tactic strong. The opponent has to answer the most urgent threat, usually a check from the moving piece, and then loses whatever the uncovered piece was attacking.
How to spot one
Look along your own bishops', rooks', and queen's lines for your own pieces in the way. If an enemy queen, rook, or king sits further down that line, the blocking piece is a loaded gun. Then look for a forcing move for that blocker: a check, a capture, or an attack on another piece.
The same idea works against you. When an enemy piece stands between its own rook or bishop and your queen, be careful, because any move of that piece might come with tempo.
How to defend
Get your queen and king off lines that run through enemy pieces, and keep valuable pieces defended. If the line cannot be avoided, put a defended piece of your own in between so the uncovered attack only hits something protected.
Common questions
What is the difference between a discovered attack and a discovered check?
A discovered check is a discovered attack in which the uncovered piece attacks the king. It is the strongest version, because the check must be answered and the moving piece is free to grab material.
Is a discovered attack a double attack?
Usually, yes. When the moving piece also makes a threat, two different pieces attack at once, which is a double attack.
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