Chess Tactics: Utilizing the Skewer

The Pin and the Skewer are two chess tactics that are quite similar to each other. In fact these two chess tactics mirror each other's functionality during a game. Both the Pin and the Skewer takes advantage of the huge range of certain of your chessmen. Primarily, you can use Queens, Rooks, and Bishops in both tactics. These two chess tactics will come in handy when you play chess to win.

As mentioned in our discussion on the Pin, it is a situation where you have your chess piece attacking or posing a threat to an opposing piece. By making such an attack the defending piece is rendered unable to move since it is in a position protecting a much more valuable chess piece. If ever you haven't gone over the specifics of the Pin as a strategic tool then it will be helpful if you go over that as well.

When comparing these two chess tactics one may say that a Skewer is something like a Pin only in reverse. A Skewer is basically an attack on two opposing pieces that are lined up. These two opposing pieces will be lined up with the more valuable piece in front of the other. The Pin will have it the other way around where the more valuable piece is shielded by the less valuable one.

There are Skewers where both attacked chess pieces are of the same value. Though that may be the case the Skewer still works just fine. In the case of the Skewer your opponent will most likely move the more valuable piece away from attack thus leaving the less valuable chess piece open to your attack.

Of course your opponent will usually try to move the chess piece that is in front and save the vulnerable one behind it or at least get an exchange in the process. Of course, the player with the skewered pieces will have other options given this situation but it will all depend on what type of Skewer is made.

There are two types of Skewers that you can make during an actual game. There are Relative Skewers and Absolute Skewers in chess. A Relative Skewer is where the either the piece in front or the piece at the back can be moved. An example of such would be a Skewered Rook and Queen with the Queen in front. You can move either piece in this type of Skewer.

An Absolute Skewer will be one that involves the King and another piece. Absolute Skewers don't give players any option but to move the more valuable piece, which is the King, and leave the other piece open to assault.

Skewers are useful when you want to gain material advantage. They are effective tactics when you play chess to win.