Pin and skewer puzzles

Pins and skewers both line up two pieces behind each other. In a pin, the front piece cannot move without exposing something more valuable behind it. In a skewer, the valuable piece is in front - it moves, and you take what was behind.

Bishops, rooks and queens are the pieces that do this, and kings and queens are the usual victims.

How to spot it

• Look for two enemy pieces on the same line, especially the king or queen.
• Attack a pinned piece again - it cannot run.
• A check along a line often turns into a skewer.