Discovered Attack Chess Puzzles
Move one piece out of the way to unleash an attack by the piece behind it. Every position comes from a real game.
What is a discovered attack puzzle?
A discovered attack puzzle is built around two of your pieces on the same line. When the front piece moves, it opens an attack by the line piece behind it, and the moving piece can make a threat of its own. Your opponent faces two threats at once. When the unmasked attack is on the king, it is a discovered check, and when both pieces give check it is a double check. New to the idea? Read the discovered attack lesson first, then come back to practise.
The 37 puzzles on this page
Every position is taken from a real game in the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Puzzle ratings range from 789 to 2330, with a median of 1514. Ratings describe how hard the puzzle is, not your playing strength.
| Group | Puzzles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 12 | 32% |
| Intermediate | 15 | 41% |
| Advanced | 10 | 27% |
| Opening | 2 | 5% |
| Middlegame | 18 | 49% |
| Endgame | 17 | 46% |
How to solve discovered attack puzzles
- Look for your own bishop, rook or queen lined up behind one of your pieces, pointing at an enemy king or queen.
- Ask where the front piece can go to make a second threat: a capture, a check, or an attack on a loose piece.
- A discovered check is the strongest version: the opponent must answer the check, so your moving piece is free to do anything.
- Defensively, notice when your king or queen sits on a line behind one of your opponent’s pieces.
Use a hint only after you have a candidate move. If you needed the solution, retry the puzzle later from memory; that is when the pattern sticks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a discovered attack in chess?
A discovered attack happens when one piece moves out of a line and reveals an attack by another piece behind it. The moving piece can make its own threat at the same time.
What is a discovered check?
A discovered check is a discovered attack where the revealed attack is on the enemy king. It is especially strong because the opponent must deal with the check first.
What is a double check?
A double check is when the moving piece and the revealed piece both give check. The only legal reply is a king move.
More puzzles
Fork puzzles · Pin puzzles · Mate in 3 puzzles · Skewer puzzles · Sacrifice puzzles · Deflection puzzles · Mate in 2 · Hard puzzles · All 720 puzzles. Found a tactic in your own game? Check it on the analysis board.