Bishop cross attack

A bishop cross attack is a square from which a bishop attacks enemy pieces on both of its diagonal axes at the same time. The king, queen, and rook always count. A knight, pawn, or bishop counts only when it is undefended. You need a bishop on that square's color. The square can be empty.

Why you should notice it

Two pieces that are not on the same diagonal can still be forked by a bishop standing on the corner between them. If you only look for pieces already lined up, you miss that square.

When to check it

During threat assessment, can *their* bishop attack one of your pieces along one diagonal and another along the crossing diagonal? While finding a move, can *yours*? Pieces on only one diagonal are a bishop diagonal, not this pattern.

Why players miss it during games

The usual bishop fork is two pieces on one diagonal. The corner, with one target on each diagonal, is easy to skip when the square is empty or occupied by a piece you could capture.

How WayChess trains it

You draw an arrow from the square to each target. A defended minor piece is not a target, your own piece on the ray does not block, and a knight, pawn, or bishop that can take on the square removes it.

Related checks

Bishop diagonal is the one-diagonal version. Rook cross attack is the same corner idea for a rook.

See all habits.