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What Are X-Rays in Chess?
X-rays are a tactical resource in chess where a piece attacks through another, threatening an enemy piece beyond the first one. They are especially useful for uncovering hidden attacks and pressuring pieces that appear protected, creating opportunities to gain material or generate strategic threats.
Key Features
- Involves a piece attacking “through” another piece, usually of lesser value.
- Allows you to uncover hidden threats or attack pieces that appear protected.
- Typically involves long-range pieces such as bishops, rooks, or queens.
- Very useful for creating pressure, gaining material, or setting up more complex tactical combinations.
X-Ray Example
Case: White moves and executes an X-ray attack.
The white rook is on d1, the black rook on d8, and the white queen on a5. By capturing with the queen on d8, a X-ray is created over the rook: the rook on d1 is attacking the d5 square through the black rook on d5.
Move: 1. Qxd8+
By capturing with the queen on d8, the threat through the black rook on d8 is established. This tactic allows uncovering hidden attacks and exerting pressure on high-value enemy pieces.