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In chess
Chess

Chess is a recreational and competitive game played between two Player . Sometimes called Western chess or international chess to distinguish it from History of chess and other chess variants, the current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from similar, much older...
, a discovered attack is an attack revealed when one piece moves out of the way of another. Discovered attacks can be extremely powerful, as the piece moved can make a threat independently of the piece it reveals. Like many chess tactics, they succeed because the opponent is unable to meet two threats at once. While typically the consequence of a discovered attack is the gain of material, they do not have to do this to be effective; the tactic can be used merely to gain a tempo
Tempo (chess)

In chess, tempo refers to a "turn" or single move. When a player achieves a desired result in one fewer moves, he "gains a tempo" and conversely when he takes one more move than necessary he "loses a tempo." Similarly, when one forces his opponent to expend moves that he would not otherwise have expended, one "gains tempo" because the oppone...
.

the moving piece gives check to the opponent's king, the maneuver is often described as a discovered attack with check.






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In chess
Chess

Chess is a recreational and competitive game played between two Player . Sometimes called Western chess or international chess to distinguish it from History of chess and other chess variants, the current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from similar, much older...
, a discovered attack is an attack revealed when one piece moves out of the way of another. Discovered attacks can be extremely powerful, as the piece moved can make a threat independently of the piece it reveals. Like many chess tactics, they succeed because the opponent is unable to meet two threats at once. While typically the consequence of a discovered attack is the gain of material, they do not have to do this to be effective; the tactic can be used merely to gain a tempo
Tempo (chess)

In chess, tempo refers to a "turn" or single move. When a player achieves a desired result in one fewer moves, he "gains a tempo" and conversely when he takes one more move than necessary he "loses a tempo." Similarly, when one forces his opponent to expend moves that he would not otherwise have expended, one "gains tempo" because the oppone...
.

Types

When the moving piece gives check to the opponent's king, the maneuver is often described as a discovered attack with check. When the discovered attack is itself a check, it is called a discovered check. If both pieces give check, a double check
Double check

In chess, a double check is a check delivered by two pieces at the same time.The most common form of one check involves one piece moving to deliver check, at the same time revealing a discovered check from a piece behind ....
 results.

Discovered attacks - especially checks - can win material when the moving piece captures an opposing piece nominally protected by another opposing piece. If the opponent deals with the discovered attack (obligatory if it is a check), the attacking player will have time to return the moving piece out of harm's way. This scenario is often referred to as a discovered attack (or check) with capture.

When the moving piece moves to a square from which it threatens to inflict checkmate on the next move, the tactic is called a discovered attack with mate threat.

Example



The diagram illustrates a trap in the Advance Variation of the French Defence
French Defence

The French Defence is a chess chess opening. It is characterized by the moves:The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black in the early stages....
, based on a discovered attack. If after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 Qb6 6.Bd3, Black mistakenly attempts to win White's d4 pawn with 6. ... Qxd4?? (diagram), White can play 7.Bb5+, a discovered attack (of Black's queen with White's queen) with check. Whatever Black replies, White can follow up with 8.Qxd4.

External links

  • - Collection of chess problems involving discovered attacks