When it comes to the tactic of performing X-Ray Attacks, we’re talking about the kind of power that Superman has, that helps him “see through” objects, in order to get sight of whatever happens to be lurking behind the foreground cover.

There are 3 Types of X-Ray Attacks:

Type 1: Another Term For Skewer Attack;

Type 2: Performing An Attack Through One Or More Friendly Pieces;

Type 3: Defending A Friendly Piece Through One Or More Enemy Pieces.

Let’s take a look at each one, in turn…

X-Ray #1: Another Term For Skewer Attack

We’ll just clear up what a Skewer Attack is, for those currently uninitiated…

A Skewer Attack is a Chess Tactic in its own right. It happens when the attacking side uses a Piece to threaten a more-valuable enemy Piece, which is sitting directly in front of a less-valuable Pawn or Piece (it could be either along a Rank, File, or a Diagonal path, behind).

The objective of the Skewer is to get the enemy Piece at the front to step aside, as the attacker’s real target is the less-valuable unit sitting in line, to the rear.

This is what the first type of X-Ray Attack also aims to achieve.

The Skewer (Type 1 X-Ray Attack) can be either an Absolute attack, or a Relative attack.

If it’s an Absolute Skewer X-Ray, the more-valuable enemy Piece at the front of the line happens to be your opponent’s King.

Now, providing you played the Skewer correctly, your opponent’s army will not be able to capture your attacking Piece, or block the Check with another Pawn or Piece. Because of this, your opponent MUST get the King to safety by moving it. This will, naturally, open up the path to the helpless Pawn or Piece sitting behind – it’s toast, you gain material.

If it’s a Relative Skewer X-Ray, the more-valuable enemy Piece at the front of the line will be another Piece, but NOT your opponent’s King. For instance, it could be a Rook, sitting directly in front of a less-valuable Bishop, Knight or Pawn.

One thing you need to be aware of, with Relative Skewers, is the more-valuable enemy Piece – the one in front – doesn’t have to move out of the way. If your opponent’s plans either can (or must) include that Piece be left in place, as a possible sacrifice.

In such a situation, before you capture the more-valuable Piece, it’s vital you take a moment to study the board, just to make certain you’re not falling into a trap, or being prepared for your opponent’s counter-attack.

X-Ray #2: Performing An Attack Through One Or More Friendly Pieces

This type of X-Ray can happen on the straights (Ranks and Files) when one player moves a Rook or Queen behind another friendly Pawn or Piece. Let’s say it’s the Rook that’s been moved behind one of its own Knights. To the other side of that Knight, but on the same File as the Rook, is an enemy Bishop.

By X-Ray, the Rook can see through the Knight, to threaten the enemy Bishop sitting just beyond.

The threat may cause the enemy to reinforce support for the Bishop, or to move the Bishop to a less-threatened square. If the enemy ignores the X-Ray threat then, should the friendly Knight move out of the way and the Bishop be unable to react, then it may well be captured.

However, if the enemy is vigilant, they may choose to either reinforce the Bishop, by sending a Piece or advancing a Pawn to protect it (if possible), or they’ll choose to move the Bishop to a less-threatened square.

Some players may used this Type 2 X-Ray to get their opponent to reinforce the support for their threatened Piece. By moving a Piece to help the threatened one, it can serve to weaken their position in another part of the board… This Type 2 X-Ray could serve to improve conditions for a proposed attack, once a particular region of the board has become sufficiently weakened.

Oh, by the way, on the Diagonals, the Queens and Bishops are the Pieces that can be used to threaten the enemy with a Type 2 X-Ray Attack.

X-Ray #3: Defending A Friendly Piece Through One Or More Enemy Pieces

You’d use this Type 3 X-Ray when one of your Pawns or Pieces is being directly threatened.

If you want to defend, by X-Ray, along one of the straights (Rank or File), you’d move either a Rook or Queen, so it’s directly in-line with the unit you’re defending and can see-through all the way to the attacking enemy unit.

If you want to defend along one of the diagonals, it’s the same principle, but you’d position either a Bishop or Queen along the line.

This Type 3 X-Ray is used to make your opponent “think twice” about attacking one of your troops.