X-ray

An x-ray is a line of attack from a bishop, rook, or queen through one piece toward another piece or a key square behind it. The front piece “blocks” the line optically; the battery is still there.

The signal

Look along ranks, files, and diagonals from your sliders and from the opponent’s. If a friendly or enemy unit sits on the line and something valuable sits beyond, mark the x-ray. Completeness matters: both sides have them.

Why it is easy to miss in a game

You see the piece in the way and stop looking. Discovery tactics, pins, and sudden recaptures all start from an x-ray you did not name. Puzzle “find the pin” already highlights the motif. In a game the line appeared two moves ago when a pawn captured.

What WayChess trains

You mark x-rays for both sides with feedback on whether the line is real. Useful x-ray then filters to the ones that actually threaten something you should care about.

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