What is a discovered attack in chess?

A discovered attack happens when moving one piece uncovers an attack from a second piece hiding behind it. Here, White's bishop stands between two queens on the same file; when it moves with tempo — usually as a sacrifice or check — the queen behind it suddenly attacks the enemy queen. It is one of the most powerful tactical motifs in a middlegame because the defender rarely sees it coming until it is too late.

What is the Greek Gift sacrifice in the French Defense?

The Greek Gift is a classic bishop sacrifice on h7 that drags the black king out of its pawn shelter. In the French Defense Tarrasch, black often castles kingside behind an h-pawn defended only by the king, which makes the motif available. If the king accepts the gift, the attacker gains open lines toward the king, and the real payoff may be even bigger than the attack itself.

How do you spot a kingside attack in the middlegame?

Look for the classic targets: a castled king protected by only one or two pawns, a defender that can be captured or deflected, and your own pieces already aimed at the enemy kingside. Before committing pieces forward, check whether the attack wins material even if it does not end in checkmate. In middlegame positions, a well-timed sacrifice that forces the king to step into the open can pay for itself by winning a bigger piece.

Why sacrifice a bishop just to win a queen?

Material is relative: giving up a minor piece is a bargain when the reply wins the enemy queen, a net swing of roughly seven points. Sacrifices like this work when the sacrifice is forcing — a check the king must answer — so the defender cannot escape the follow-up. Winning a full queen for a bishop leaves you up decisive material, which is often as good as a win in practical play.

How can a discovered attack win material in the French Defense?

In French Defense lines like the Tarrasch, black's pieces often develop slowly, leaving the queen exposed on open files. When one of your pieces blocks an attacking line, find a forcing way to move it — a check, capture, or sacrifice. If the piece moves with tempo, the opponent has no time to rescue the piece under attack, and you win material.

What is the difference between a discovered attack and a discovered check?

A discovered check is a special case of a discovered attack: the piece that is uncovered attacks the enemy king, giving check. A discovered attack, by contrast, targets any piece — a queen, rook, or bishop. In this middlegame puzzle the motif is a discovered attack rather than a discovered check, since the revealed target is the black queen.

French Defense Tarrasch Variation Puzzle (Rated 1026)

French Defense Tarrasch Variation Puzzle (Rated 1026): Sacrifice — Win a Queen

This middlegame position from the French Defense Tarrasch rewards a careful eye: White's queen stares straight at the enemy queen, but a friendly bishop blocks the file between them. The winning plan fuses a kingside attack with a discovered attack. White hurls a sacrificial piece at the black kingside, giving a check the king must accept, which drags the blocking piece away. With the line cleared, the queen captures the opposing queen — trading a minor piece for the whole enemy queen, a decisive advantage.