Learn How to X-Ray Attack: Mate in 3
This middlegame puzzle shows how an x-ray attack can turn a seemingly ordinary file into a forced mating net. The key idea is that one piece is lined up behind another, so when the front piece is removed or exchanged, the hidden attacker suddenly becomes decisive. In classical chess, these patterns often appear around open files, pinned pieces, and exposed king positions, where tactical pressure outweighs material considerations.