Discovered attack: a practical example
A knight may move off a bishop's diagonal, revealing pressure on an enemy queen while the knight creates a separate threat. The moved piece and the uncovered attacker can therefore cooperate even though they travel in different directions.
How to use the idea in your games
Find your own pieces that block useful lines. Consider whether the blocker can move with a threat, but check whether opening the line also exposes your king.
A useful study question
Can you explain discovered attack in your own words, identify it in a position, and describe when the idea does not apply? Test the explanation on a legal board before relying on it.
Connect the ideas
Diagonal, Double check, Combination are useful next concepts. Follow the links to compare definitions and examples, then return to the complete chess glossary whenever an unfamiliar term appears.
Sources & further reading
References checked September 5, 2026. Linked services are independent of ChessRankings.com™.