Chapter 06 · Beginner+ · 5 min
The skewer
A skewer puts the valuable piece in front. It runs away, and the piece behind it gets exposed.
Explanation
Threading is similar to nailing, but the order is reversed.
In a rank, the most important piece is in front. She has to flee, and the piece behind becomes vulnerable. For example, a bishop attacks a king, and a rook is on the same diagonal behind him.
Enfilade works very well with pieces that attack in line: bishop, rook and queen. Look for the kings, queens and rooks lined up. The pieces lined up often look calm, until the line opens.
To remember
In a rank, the important piece is in front. When it moves, the one behind it falls.
Classic error
Confuse nailing and enfilade. They look similar, but the order of the pieces is reversed.
Player Tip
Look for pieces aligned with the king or queen. Straight lines hide a lot of tactics.