Week 10 — Discovered Attacks
Goal: find the blocker, move it with purpose, and notice the attack that appears behind it.
What is a discovered attack?
A discovered attack happens when one of your pieces moves away and reveals an attack from a rook, bishop, or queen behind it. Think of the front piece as a curtain: when the curtain moves, the hidden piece suddenly attacks.
If the hidden attack is against the king, it is a discovered check. If the moving piece also gives check, both pieces may check at once — a double check.
Recognition routine: L-B-M-T
- Line: Do I have a rook, bishop, or queen lined up with an enemy target?
- Blocker: Is one of my own pieces sitting in the way?
- Move: Can the blocker move with check, a capture, or another threat?
- Two jobs: After it moves, what does the hidden piece attack, and what does the moving piece do?
Worked visual examples
Start with the orange arrow for the moving blocker, then follow the newly opened line.
Example 1. Step aside and uncover the rook
1. Be5+!
Hidden attacker: Rook on d1
Target(s): Black queen on d8 (while the bishop checks the king)
The bishop leaves the d-file with check. Black must answer the check, so the rook gets the next move against the queen.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 2. Check with the moving bishop
1. Bd5+!
Hidden attacker: Rook on e1
Target(s): Black queen on e8
The bishop moves off the e-file and checks from d5. The rook is suddenly looking straight at the queen.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 3. A pawn can be the blocker too
1. b6+!
Hidden attacker: Queen on a4
Target(s): Black king on e8; the pawn can take the rook on c7 next
The pawn was sitting on the queen’s diagonal. Moving it to b6 opens a4–e8, so the queen gives discovered check.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 4. Black uncovers a rook attack
1... Bxg2+!
Hidden attacker: Rook on c8
Target(s): White queen on c1
The bishop leaves the c-file by capturing on g2 with check. Once the king answers, the rook can take the queen on c1.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 5. The moving piece can win something too
1. Nxc5!
Hidden attacker: Rook on a1
Target(s): Queen on a8; the knight also captures the rook on c5
One move does two jobs: the knight wins a rook and steps off the a-file, uncovering the rook’s attack on the queen.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 6. Not every discovery has to be check
1. Nc6!
Hidden attacker: Bishop on b2
Target(s): Black queen on g7
The knight leaves the b2–g7 diagonal. The bishop attacks the queen, so White gains a useful tempo.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 7. Double check: both pieces check
1. Bc6++!
Hidden attacker: Rook on e1 and bishop on c6
Target(s): Black king on e8
The bishop moves off the e-file and still checks the king from c6. The rook also gives check. In double check, the king must move.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 8. Clear a diagonal with a pawn move
1. d4!
Hidden attacker: Bishop on c2
Target(s): Black queen on h7
The pawn leaves d3, so the bishop’s diagonal c2–h7 becomes open. The queen is suddenly attacked.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 9. Use check to win the hidden target
1. Bf7+!
Hidden attacker: Rook on h1
Target(s): Black queen on h8
The bishop checks from f7 and clears the h-file. Black must answer the check before saving the queen.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Example 10. The hidden attacker can be the queen
1. Bf2+!
Hidden attacker: Queen on a1
Target(s): Black king on h8
The bishop steps away from the a1–h8 diagonal. The queen has not moved, but it suddenly gives check.
Original teaching diagram for this lesson; not copied from an external diagram.
Discovered-attack checklist
- Look behind your own pieces for a rook, bishop, or queen.
- Trace the hidden line all the way to an enemy king, queen, rook, or loose piece.
- Ask whether the blocker can move with check first.
- If there is no check, look for a capture or a second threat.
- Before playing, make sure the line is truly open after the blocker moves.
Exercises — exactly 10 puzzles
Write your move before opening the hint. No solutions are stored in this student file.
Puzzle 1
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 2
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 3
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 4
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 5
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 6
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 7
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 8
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 9
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Puzzle 10
Find the best move. Use L-B-M-T: line, blocker, move, two jobs.
Quick review / exit questions
- What has to move for a discovered attack to appear?
- Which three long-range pieces can become the hidden attacker?
- Why is a discovered check especially useful?
- What should the moving blocker try to do besides simply getting out of the way?