X-ray attack puzzles
84 free x-ray attack puzzles from real games, rated 850 to 2466. Solve them on the board below; your accuracy feeds your weakness map.
What is a x-ray attack?
An x-ray is a line piece attacking or defending through another piece. When the piece in between moves or is captured, the x-ray becomes real.
X-rays matter most in exchanges on a single square, where counting attackers 'through' each other decides who wins the trade.
Common mistake
Counting a square as 'defended once' when an x-ray adds a second attacker.
How to spot it
When counting attackers and defenders, include pieces lined up behind others.
Rooks doubled on a file and queen-behind-bishop batteries are x-ray setups.
After a capture sequence, check which line opens up behind the last piece.
Related themes
- Attraction (decoy)Drag a piece onto a fatal square.
- ClearanceClear a square or line for another piece.
- InterferenceCut the line between two enemy pieces.
- ZugzwangEvery move makes it worse.
- Quiet moveNo check, no capture, and still winning.
Let the adaptive drill find your weakest pattern
Puzzles: Lichess puzzle database (CC0), filtered for popularity and play count. See how Weakspot works.