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Discovered attacks

Chess

Move one piece to unmask another.

What coaches agree on

  • Look for one of your own long-range pieces — a queen, rook, or bishop — already aimed at an enemy target, even when one of your own pieces (not necessarily right next to it) is blocking that line.
  • Send the piece that moves out of the way toward a target of its own, rather than any old square, so your opponent faces two threats at once and can only save one.
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  • Favor discoveries that give check: your opponent must answer the check before anything else, and in a double check, moving the king is the only legal option at all.

Common mistakes

  • Before committing to a square, check what your opponent can do in reply — a tempting choice can still fail if it leaves your piece capturable or exposes your own king, as several lessons show the hard way.