Skewer conceded
And you — how often have you allowed it?
Import your games: ChessPivot flags every time this pattern cost you material, and trains you to fix it.
What is it?
An allowed skewer is the reverse of a pin: your opponent attacks one of your valuable pieces (often the king or queen) which, when it steps aside, uncovers a less valuable piece behind it on the same line. You’re forced to move the attacked piece — and lose the one behind.
How it happens
It comes from a long-range piece (rook, bishop, queen) on an open line running through two of your pieces, the stronger in front. Very common in the endgame: a rook check wins the rook behind the king. You allow it by lining up king, queen and rooks on a file or rank that can open.
How to avoid it
Keep your valuable pieces off open lines where another piece sits behind them. In the endgame especially, avoid putting king and rook on the same rank without protection. When a skewer threatens, interpose a piece or place the target so its departure uncovers nothing.
Train this motif
Exercises built from YOUR games (solved, missed) are part of ChessPivot Plus. Discover ChessPivot Plus
Frequently asked
- How do I tell a skewer from a pin?
- In a pin, the valuable piece is behind (the pinned piece shields it). In a skewer, the valuable piece is in front: attacked, it steps aside and exposes the piece behind.
- Why are skewers common in the endgame?
- Because few pieces remain to block the lines, and the now-active king often exposes itself on open ranks and files where an enemy rook can skewer it.