X-Ray Attack in chess: how it works
A piece attacks through another piece to threaten a target behind it.
An x-ray attack (also called an x-ray defense) happens when a piece exerts influence through another piece to hit a target behind it. It is as if the piece has x-ray vision - it can see through obstructions.
The most common x-ray pattern involves rooks or queens on the same file or rank as the king: even though another piece stands between them, capturing that piece can result in disaster.
X-ray defense is just as important: your piece can 'see through' another piece to defend a square or piece on the other side. This means pieces can defend each other even without a direct line of sight.
X-Ray Attack examples
White queen x-rays through the black queen to threaten the king on e8
The white queen on e1 aims along the e-file through the black queen on e5 all the way to the black king on e8. This x-ray means that if the black queen ever moves off the e-file (to capture something, for example), white plays Qxe8 checkmate. The black queen is effectively pinned by the x-ray - it cannot leave the e-file without allowing immediate checkmate.
White rook x-rays through its own rook to control h8
Two white rooks are stacked on the h-file. The rook on h1 x-rays through the rook on h7 to control h8 (the king's square). If black were to capture the h7 rook (Kxh7), the h1 rook immediately recaptures and continues the pressure. X-ray awareness is important: never assume a piece is safe just because a friendly piece stands in front of it.
Spot x-ray attack in YOUR games →
Free. Chess2EZ finds every x-ray attack, pin, and blunder in your real games and explains each one in plain English.
Analyze my games →