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Discovered Attack

A discovered attack happens when a piece moves away and uncovers an attack from a piece behind it. Two threats appear in one move.

A knight uncovers a bishop attack

The knight on c3 blocks the bishop on b2. The knight jumps to d5. The bishop now attacks the queen on d4, and the knight attacks new squares too.

FEN: 4k3/8/8/8/3q4/2N5/1B6/7K w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . q . . . . 4
3 . . N . . . . . 3
2 . B . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . . . . K 1
  a b c d e f g h

A pawn uncovers a rook attack

The pawn on e2 blocks the rook on e1. The pawn captures the knight on d3 and leaves the file. The rook now attacks the queen on e7 along the open file.

FEN: 4k3/4q3/8/8/8/3n4/4P3/4R1K1 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . q . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . n . . . . 3
2 . . . . P . . . 2
1 . . . . R . K . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • A piece in front blocks a line piece behind it.
  • The front piece moves away from the line.
  • The back piece then attacks a target on that line.
  • The moving piece often makes a threat of its own.
  • The opponent must answer two threats at once.
  • Discovered attacks work on ranks, files, and diagonals.
  • Look for a piece sitting between a line piece and a target.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

White to move. Which knight move uncovers an attack by the bishop on b2 on the queen on d4?