“Tactics flow from a superior position.”
– Robert James (Bobby) Fischer
The Skewer is quite similar to the Pin. The Skewer tactic is based on the same principle: a long-range piece attacks an enemy piece with another target behind the attacked piece. However, in this case, the attacked piece is of higher or equal value than the target. The player undergoing the Skewer usually prefers to move the attacked piece, offering the other piece to their opponent, as it is of lesser value.
This is the opposite of the Pin: the player prefers (or is sometimes forced) to keep the attacked piece on its square.
To understand the difference, let’s consider an example featuring both tactics in the same position.
In the diagram below, it is White to move, and we note that they are currently a Rook down. However, Black has their own problems, as their King is stuck in the centre where all the lines are open. Moreover, the Rook on g8 is unprotected and occupies the same file as the King. White can take advantage of these conditions to balance the forces on the board by playing 1. Rf3+! with an effective Skewer on the Black King!
skewer and the pin
Here, since the Skewer involves the King, Black is forced to move out of check, allowing White to capture the g8 Rook. On the queenside, we can also note that White is Pinning the c6 Knight with their Bishop. Contrary to the Skewer, Black does not want to move the Knight, as doing so would allow the Bishop to capture the Rook, which is of greater value.
In the case of the Skewer, the piece with the greater value (the King in our example) is forced to move, so the piece of lesser value behind it (the g8 Rook in our example) will be captured.
black queen and rook
In the above diagram, it is White to move, and the Black Queen is threatened by the f3 Bishop. The Queen must move to escape from this attack, allowing the Bishop to capture the a8 Rook. Black could, of course, choose a move to support the Rook with the Queen in order to capture the Bishop, but since the Rook is valued more than the Bishop, the Skewer is effective as White exchanges their Bishop for a Rook.
The Skewer can also involve two pieces of the same value. As we can see in the following position, the White Bishop is threatened by the g6 Rook. White evaluates the position correctly and finds a way to respond cleverly to this attack by playing 1. Be8! skewering both Rooks. Black is certain to lose a Rook for the Bishop. In this case, it makes no difference whether the attacked piece moves or not, as the attacked pieces are of equal value.
As it is the case for the other tactics we learned, be careful to watch for in-between moves that could be used as defending manoeuvers. It is always wise to analyse all possibilities before playing your move: you will certainly avoid mistakes or better yet, find a much better move!
