Chess Skewer Puzzles

Practise skewers: attack a valuable piece so it moves and exposes the one behind. Free skewer puzzles.

A skewer is a reversed pin. You attack a valuable piece first; when it steps aside, the piece behind it on the same line is left hanging.

Skewers often appear in open positions and endgames, where long-range pieces have clear lines toward the king and queen.

• Checks along a rank, file or diagonal are the most forcing way to set up a skewer.
• Kings and queens on the same line are a warning sign - for both sides.
• In rook endgames, a skewer from behind can win the opponent's rook outright.

Puzzles from Lichess (CC0). Enable JavaScript to play.