What is X-ray attack in chess?
A piece attacks or defends through another piece that stands in the way.
An x-ray threat means that if the intermediate piece moves or is captured, the piece behind is suddenly under attack. Rooks and queens most commonly deliver x-ray attacks along files and ranks.
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Analyze my games →More chess terms
- DesperadoA piece that is going to be captured anyway, so it grabs as much material as possible before it dies.
- InterferencePlacing a piece on a square to cut the communication between two enemy pieces.
- Clearance sacrificeSacrificing a piece to vacate a square or line so another piece can use it.
- Trapped pieceA piece with no safe squares to move to - it can be won for free or cheaply.
- Hanging pieceAn undefended piece that can be captured for free.
- En priseA French phrase meaning a piece is in a position to be captured.