Intermediate tactic · 1 of 12
The discovered attack
One piece moves and uncovers an attack from the piece behind it.
- Learn how it worksThree examples with Capra. You play each one yourself.Three examples with CapraStart the lesson
- Practise on real puzzlesPractise on puzzles80 discovered attack puzzles, from easy to very hard.0 of 80 solvedGo to the puzzlesGo to the puzzles
Two threats from one move
The piece in front makes one threat. The piece behind it makes another.
The front piece checks
The bishop gives check, and the rook behind it attacks the queen.
The back piece checks
The rook gives check, and the bishop in front attacks the queen.
A knight jumps away
The knight gives check, and the rook behind it attacks the queen.
Discovered attacks in numbers
Counted from the 8,394 discovered attacks in our puzzle library, all taken from real games- 1 in 34
of our puzzles has a discovered attack in it.
- 9 in 10
start with a check, from the piece that moves or from the one behind it.
- 47%
of them win the queen.
Which piece moves out of the way
- Knight33%
- Bishop32%
- Rook14%
- Pawn13%
- Queen7%
What the discovered attack wins
- Queen47%
- Rook28%
- Checkmate13%
- Bishop6%
- Knight2%
Good to know
Discovered attacks: common questions
What is a discovered attack in chess?
A discovered attack happens when one piece moves out of the way and uncovers an attack from a rook, bishop or queen behind it. If the piece that moved also makes a threat, your opponent faces two threats at once.
What is a discovered check?
A discovered attack where the uncovered piece attacks the king. The check has to be answered, so the piece that moved is free to capture or attack almost anything.
Which pieces can make a discovered attack?
The piece behind must be a rook, a bishop or a queen. The piece in front can be anything, including a pawn or the king.
How do I spot a discovered attack?
Look for one of your long-range pieces aimed at a target with your own piece in the way. Then look for a move by the front piece that gives check or attacks something valuable.