Learn How to Skewer: Indian Defense Tactic
This middlegame puzzle shows how a skewer can turn a seemingly ordinary attack into a decisive material win. White’s queen and rook alignment on the h-file creates a tactical target, while Black’s king safety is already compromised by a weakened pawn shield. In positions like this, forcing checks and captures often expose a hidden line where a higher-value piece is forced to move, leaving a more valuable piece behind it vulnerable. The key idea is to use the opponent’s king and major pieces as part of the tactic, not just the target.