White to move · 2 moves · Rating 573
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
47.Rf8+ Ke5 48.Rxf3
Ponderchess / Puzzles
Skewer puzzles
38 skewer puzzles from real games, rated 573 to 2615. Here are 18, from easiest to hardest.
A skewer is a pin turned around: a long-range piece attacks a valuable piece, and when it moves out of the way, the piece behind it is captured. The front piece is usually the king or queen.
Skewers often appear in endgames, where open lines let rooks and bishops check from a distance. Many of these puzzles start with a check that forces the king onto the same line as one of its own pieces.
How to solve them: When the enemy king and another piece share a rank, file or diagonal, look for a check along that line from the far side.
New to the idea? Read Skewer in chess first.
18 skewer puzzles to solve
Solve it on the board →
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 679
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
45.Re3+ Kd4 46.Rxa3
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 733
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
32...Rxa2+ 33.Kb1 Rxd2
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 793
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
53...Rf2+ 54.Kd3 Rxa2
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 833
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
18...Qxh1+ 19.Ke2 Qxa1
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 897
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
56.Rb8+ Kc6 57.Rc8+ Kd7 58.Rxc5
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 1094
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
56...Rb3+ 57.Kc5 Rxb8
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1108
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
46.Rb4+ Kd5 47.Rxh4
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 1295
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
23...Rh5+ 24.Nh4 Qxg3
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1361
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
52.Qa8+ Kd6 53.Qxf3
White to move · 2 moves · Rating 1561
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
35.Qxb7+ Ke6 36.Qxe4+
Black to move · 2 moves · Rating 1809
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
21...Bh4 22.Qg4 Bxe1
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 2001
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
15...Be5 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Qc4 Bxb2
Black to move · 3 moves · Rating 2167
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
51...Kf3 52.Ke1 Rc1+ 53.Kd2 Rxg1
White to move · 5 moves · Rating 2233
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
30.axb6+ Kd7 31.Rxa7+ Kxe8 32.Rxg7 Rxg7 33.b7 Rxb7 34.gxh3
Black to move · 5 moves · Rating 2344
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
31...Rxf7 32.Qb8+ Kh7 33.Rxf7 Qd1+ 34.Kf2 Qf1+ 35.Kg3 Qxf7
White to move · 3 moves · Rating 2503
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
27.Nxb7 Qxb7 28.Ba6 Qa8 29.Bxc8
White to move · 4 moves · Rating 2615
Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.
Show the solution
35.Qxh5+ Kg7 36.Rxf7+ Kxf7 37.Bxg6+ Kf8 38.Bxe8
Train all 38 skewer puzzles in the trainer, with a rating that adapts to you →
Positions from the open Lichess puzzle database (CC0).