Intermediate tactic · 6 of 12
The X-ray attack
A rook, bishop or queen attacks or defends a square through an enemy piece standing in the way.
- Learn how it worksThree examples with Capra. You play each one yourself.Three examples with CapraStart the lesson
- Practise on real puzzlesPractise on puzzles80 x-ray attack puzzles, from easy to very hard.0 of 80 solvedGo to the puzzlesGo to the puzzles
Three pieces can look through
An X-ray runs along a line, so it takes a rook, a bishop or a queen. The piece in the way belongs to your opponent.
Rook X-ray
The rook on d1 backs up the queen on d8 through the black rook between them.
Queen X-ray
The queen on c2 backs up the rook on g6 through the black queen on f5.
Bishop X-ray
The bishop on b2 is aimed at the rook on h8 through the black bishop on g7.
X-ray attacks in numbers
Counted from the 614 X-ray attacks in our puzzle library, all taken from real games- 1 in 450
of our puzzles has an X-ray attack in it.
- 58%
of them end in checkmate.
- 59%
of them come in the endgame.
Which piece makes the first move
- Queen51%
- Rook38%
- Knight5%
- Pawn3%
- Bishop3%
What it wins
- Checkmate58%
- Rook23%
- Queen15%
- Bishop3%
Good to know
X-ray attacks: common questions
What is an X-ray attack in chess?
An X-ray attack is when a rook, bishop or queen attacks or defends a square through an enemy piece standing on the same line. If that piece moves or captures, the line opens and the X-ray becomes a real attack.
What is the difference between an X-ray and a skewer?
A skewer attacks a valuable piece and wins the one behind it when the front piece moves away. An X-ray looks through an enemy piece at a square, usually to back up a capture or a check there.
What is an X-ray defence?
The same idea used to protect. Your rook, bishop or queen defends one of your own pieces through an enemy piece between them, so a capture that looks free can be taken back.
How do I spot an X-ray?
Count the attackers of a square again, and this time include any rook, bishop or queen of yours that is aimed at it with one enemy piece in the way. If that enemy piece has to capture on the square, your piece behind it takes back.