TACTICAL PATTERNS
Discovered Attacks
A collection of 20 instructive exercises that
illustrate Discovered Attacks.
CHESSFOX.COM
Exercise 1
A discovered attack occurs when moving a piece
reveals a strong threat from a piece behind it.
The power of a discovered attack lies in the fact
that you can use it to set up a double attack.
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for black?
(The solution is on the next page.)
Exercise 1 - Solution
If black moves the bishop on e6, the rook on e8
will reveal a discovered attack on white’s queen.
It would be useful if you can also make a threat,
or a check, with the piece that moves away (you
will essentially create multiple threats).
● 1… Bxa2+ 2.Kxa2 Rxe4
Exercise 2
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. White is threatening Qxh7#. What is the
best way for black to deal with this threat?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 2 - Solution
Black’s queen can reveal a discovered attack on
white’s queen if the bishop on c5 moves. The
discovered attack will only be useful if black can
make a strong threat with the bishop.
● 1… Bxf2+ 2.Rxf2 Qxh5 demonstrates a
typical discovered attack.
Exercise 3
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. White is behind 5 points in material.
There seems to be a possible discovered attack
in the air, but how can white make it work?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 3 - Solution
Note that Nxe7+ reveals a discovered attack on
the black queen, whilst the white bishop on c4
also pins the black queen, making Qxe7 an
illegal move.
● 1.Nxe7+ Kh8 2.Bxf7 Rxf7 3.Nxc8
Exercise 4
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. Black is down a whole rook in this
position. Is there something black can do to save
the day?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 4 - Solution
1… Qh4+ prepares for a discovered attack on
the next move by lining up the queens and, at
the same time, force the white king to the
f3-square, allowing 2… g4+
● 1… Qh4+ 2.Kf3 g4+! 3.Kf4 Qxd8 turns the
tables on white.
Exercise 5
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for white?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 5 - Solution
White’s rook on d6 can capture the bishop on e6
because he will be indirectly supported by the
possible discovered attack on the e-file.
● 1.Rxe6 Qxe6 2.Bxh7+ Kxh7 3.Rxe6
● 1.Bh7+ Kxh7 Rdxe6 is also good for white
but 1.Rxe6 is much better.
Exercise 6
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for black?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 6 - Solution
If the black pawn on d4 moves, then black’s
bishop on g7 would reveal a discovered attack
on white’s bishop on b2. Note that this idea only
works because the bishop on b2 is undefended.
● 1… d3 2.Bxd3 Bxb2
● 1… d3 2.Bxg7 dxe2 3.Qxe2 Kxg7
Exercise 7
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. Observe that white can reveal a
discovered attack (check) on black’s king--if the
knight on c4 moves. What is the best way for
white to take advantage of this opportunity?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 7 - Solution
1.Nb6+ is a discovered attack on black’s king,
but it is also a double-check! A double-check
forces the checked king to move because the
check comes from two directions! In other words,
black can’t play 1… Qxc1 or axb6 or Nc6.
● 1.Nb6+ Kb8 2.Rc8# is a forced checkmate.
● 1.Nd6+? Kd7 and black escapes.
Exercise 8
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for white?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 8 - Solution
White can win the black bishop on d4, thanks to
the discovered attack that will be possible if the
black pawn on c5 is removed..
● 1.Nxd4 cxd4 2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 3.Qxc7
● 1.Bxf7+ Rxf7 2.Nxd4 is also good, but
1.Nxd4 is much better.
Exercise 9
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. White is down in material but the black
king is very exposed. What is the best move for
white?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 9 - Solution
1.Qe7+ prepares for a discovered attack by
lining up the white queen with the black queen.
● 1.Qe7+ Kg8 2.Rg6+ Bxg6 3.Qxc5
● 1.Qe7+ Rf7 2.Rxg6 Kxg6 3.Qxc5
● 1.Qe7+ Bf7 2.Rxg6 Kxg6 3.Qxc5
● 1.Qe7+ Kh8 2.Qxf8+
Exercise 10
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for white?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 10 - Solution
White’s queen can capture the bishop on c6
because she will be indirectly defended by the
discovered attack, Bb3+.
● 1. Qxc6 Qxc6 2.Bb3+ Kh8 3.Rxc6
Exercise 11
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for black?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 11 - Solution
Black could play 1… Qxb3 but that would allow
white to play 2.Qxe8+... With that in mind, black
first plays 1… Qg8! This is a discovered attack
on white’s queen that forces her to retreat, after
which black can capture white’s rook on b3.
● 1… Qg8! 2.Qg4 Qxb3
Exercise 12
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for black?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 12 - Solution
1… Qh4 threatens Qxh2# and, at the same time,
prepares the discovered attack Nf2+, followed by
Qxb4. White can’t stop both threats.
● 1… Qh4 2.h3 Nf2+ 3.Kg1 Qxb4
Exercise 13
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for black?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 13 - Solution
Black’s queen on can reveal a discovered attack
on white’s queen if the rook on e6 moves away.
However, black can’t make a strong threat with
the rook, yet. The point of 1… Bxd4 then, is to
clear the e-file for the black rook--which creates
the threat of 2… Re1+ followed by Qxc8.
● 1… Bxd4 2.Rxd4 Re1+ followed by Qxc8
Exercise 14
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for white?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 14 - Solution
Note that any square beyond the white bishop on
d3, is vulnerable to a potential discovered attack.
This also means the d7-square is indirectly
defended! That is why white can play 1.Nd7,
forking the black rooks.
● 1.Nd7 Qxd7? 2.Bxh7+ Kxh7 3.Rxd7
Exercise 15
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. White is threatening Qxg6# What is the
best move for black?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 15 - Solution
The key to this solution is to note that black’s
queen could reveal a discovered attack on
white’s queen, but so can black’s rook on a7!
Black then finds a way to give a check with their
bishop by coercing the white king to move to c3.
● 1... Qxc3+ 2.Kxc3 Bb4+ 3.Rxb4 axb4+
4.Kxb4 Rxf7
Exercise 16
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. Black is down a pawn in material but his
pieces are all in active positions. What is the
best move for black?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 16 - Solution
1… Qb6 threatens to capture the undefended
knight on d4. At the same time black’s queen
“pins” the knight because moving it would hand
black’s queen potential discovered attack.
● 1… Qb6 2.Nxf5 Re2+, followed by Rxd2.
● 1… Nh4, threatening Rxd3, is also strong
but 1… Qb6 is even stronger.
Exercise 17
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for white?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 17 - Solution
1.Bf6! reveals a discovered attack on black’s
queen. At the same time white is threatening
Rxg7+, which leads to a tactical pattern known
as a windmill, or see-saw, tactic.
● 1.Bf6! Qxh5 2.Rxg7+ Kh8 3.Rxf7+ Kg8.
4.Rg7+ Kh8 5. Rxb7+ Kg8 6.Rg7+ Kh8
7.Rg5+ Kh7 8.Rxh5.
Exercise 18
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. What is the best move for black?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 18 - Solution
1… Qg6+ forces the white king to a square
where black’s knight can check him.
● 1… Qg6+ 2.Kf1 (or Kh1) Ng3+, followed by
Qxd3. (Note how 2… Ng3+ also covers the
e2-square, preventing the king to defend the
queen from e2.)
● 1… Qg6+ 2. Kh3 Nf2+3. Kh4 Qg5#
Exercise 19
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. White’s knights and queen must surely
be able to exploit the vulnerable black king and
queen? What is the best move for white?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 19 - Solution
1.Nd6 threatens the discovered attack, Nxc6+,
followed by Nxb8+ and/or Qxe6. If 1.Nd6 cxd6,
then the black queen does not defend the pawn
on c6 anymore (blocked by the pawn on d6).
● 1. Nd6! cxd6 2. Nxc6+ Kd7 3. Nxb8+ Kc7 4.
Qxe6 or
● 1.Nd6 Qxd6 2. Nf7+ followed by Nxd6
Exercise 20
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the
position. It appears that white’s rook on e6 is
trapped in a pin. How can white escape?
The solution is on the next page.
Exercise 20 - Solution
1.Bd7! uses the idea of a discovered attack to
save white’s pinned rook.
● 1.Bd7! Qxd7 2.Rxg6+, followed by 3.Qxd7
● 1.Bd7! Qd8 2.Rxe5 saves the rook in style.
End of
TACTICAL PATTERNS
Discovered Attacks
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