Discoveries: ambushing your opponent

Discoveries are when a move from one piece uncovers an attack from another piece.

A basic (and very common) theme

Black takes the h2 pawn with check, and White has to attend to that check - probably by capturing the Bishop.

But Black's checking manoeuvre has uncovered an attack by his Rook on the Black Queen, which is captured the next move.

Always be very careful if an enemy Bishop is pointed towards your King.

Another check, plus discovered attack

In this example it is Black to play. By checking the White King with Ng3+, Black uncovers an attack by his Queen on the White Queen, which is now lost.

Discovered attack with threat of mate

Black's Queen is undefended (a red light) and White came up with the brilliant move Bh7. Black's Queen is now under attack, but if she now saves herself either by retreating or by taking the White Queen, White has the stunning mate Bxh6 (diagram 2). Undefended Queens are a prime target.

A double check

In this example, White forces the Black King to g8, putting him right in the line of fire from the Rook and (soon) the Bishop. To achieve this, White plays Qg8+ and Black must capture.

Diagram 2 shows the position after the Bishop goes to e6, delivering a double check from (i) the Bishop and (ii) the Rook. The King can do nothing but incarcerate himself by going back to h8, when Rg8 delivers mate.

Double checks are almost always deadly.

Snatching a pawn

It is Black to play, and an inexperienced player might imagine that he can win the d4 pawn. After all, he has three pieces attacking it - Queen, Knight and Pawn - and there are only two pieces defending it. He goes through all the exchanges and (with White to play) comes to the position in diagram 2.

Yes, Black is a pawn up, but that is very much a temporary success. From diagram 2, White takes his Bishop to b5, checking the Black King and leaving Black's Queen open to capture with Qxd4. Game over.

A spectacular attack

White's pieces are pointed menacingly towards Black's castled position and he found this combination, starting with Nh6+ and discovering an attack on the Black Knight.

If Black takes the Knight, then Qxf6 and mate is unstoppable - but if the King runs to the corner then the real point of the attack on the Black Knight comes into play: Qxf6 (diagram 2)

The White Knight is immune as the g-pawn is pinned. If the pawn takes the Queen then Bxf6 is mate. Lastly, if the Rook tries to defend by Rg8 then Nxf7+ wins easily.

Index and Pins --- Skewers --- Double attacks --- Knight forks --- Discovered attacks --- Deflection --- Back rank mates