Tactical motifs
Discovered attack
Moving one piece unveils an attack from the piece behind it.
What is the discovered attack?
A discovered attack happens when you move one piece out of the way and, in doing so, unleash an attack from a piece standing behind it. Two pieces attack on one move — the one that moves, and the one revealed.
Why the discovered attack matters
Discoveries are brutal because the moving piece can make its own threat at the same time. The opponent faces two problems from a single move and often cannot solve both. When the revealed attack is a check, the piece that moved is essentially free to do anything.
How to use it to win
Look for your own pieces standing directly in front of your rooks, bishops or queen, pointing at an enemy target. The art is choosing where the front piece goes so it grabs material or makes a threat while the discovery does its work.
Try an example puzzle
A real discovered attack puzzle from the app. White to move — find the idea, then reveal the line.
6 
5 
a c 
d h 1 Show solution
1. Bxa6 bxa6 2. Qxf2
Drill the discovered attack on thousands of real puzzles, matched to your rating.