Chess Windmill Attack
(a.k.a. See-saw Attack)

In Chess, what is known as a
See-saw, but more commonly a Windmill Attack, is a tactic very rarely seen in games - be they casual or competitive matches.

As a result, it's not surprising that most people haven't heard of Windmills, in relation to Chess.

This tactic gets its name due to the key feature, whereby the attacker performs a rotating series of "Checks" and Captures - the consistency of which is like the rotation of the blades/sails of a Windmill.

1. Rxe7+ ... Kb8
2. Rb7+ ... Ka8
3. Rxf7+ ... Kb8
4. Rb7+ ... Ka8
5. Rxg8+ ... Kb8
6. Rb7+ ... Ka8
7. Rxh7+ ... Kb8
8. Rxa8+

Move 1 see's a Discovered Check, from White's Bishop, after White's Rook goes off to capture (x) Black's Bishop, on e7.

What happens, with this Chess Windmill Attack, is, after White captures the Bishop, Black's King is forced to evade the Check, from White's Bishop ...

To keep the Windmill going, before White can capture more material, it MUST restrict Black into ONLY moving his King ...

In addition, Black's King MUST return to a square that will soon have him back in "Check".

As the video clip shows, in this example, Black's King can only return to either a8 or b8 - both squares that will promptly put the King back in "Check", be it from White's Rook, or White's Bishop.

The sequence of "Check"-Escape-Capture repeats itself, until Black has just his solitary King on the Board.

Okay, a great example ... But a 'mock-up' that you'll probably NEVER see in an actual game.

In the next example, you'll see the great Emmanual Lasker performing the Chess Windmill Attack, for REAL ...

25. Bf6 ... Qxh5
26. Rxg7+ ... Kh8
27. Rxf7+ ... Kg8
28. Rg7+ ... Kh8
29. Rxb7+ ... Kg8
30. Rg7+ ... Kh8
31. Rg5+ ... Kh7
32. Rxh5

Historical Game:
Torre-Em.Lasker, Moscow, 1925

Move 25, White's Bishop slides up to f6 and, in the process, creates a Discovered Attack, by his Queen, against Black's Queen - both on the 5th Rank ...

Black's response is to use his Queen to capture (x) White's Queen, on h5.

And now White swings into action, with his Chess Windmill Attack ...

Move 26, White, first of all, takes his active Rook up the Board and captures (x) Black's Pawn, on g7, putting Black's King in "Check" (+) ...

Because of the protection from White's Bishop, on f6, Black's King CANNOT capture White's Rook, so instead must escape, to h8 - the only legal square for his King.

Move 27, White's Rook captures (x) Black's Pawn, on f7 and, simultaneously creates a "Discovered Check" (+), from White's Bishop.

All Black's King can do is escape, back to g8.

Moves 28-30 sees White "Check" & Capture material, while all Black can do is, rather limply, move his King out of Check.

Move 31, White's Rook goes to g5, allowing his Bishop to target another "Discovered Check" (+); Black's King, once more, retreats to h7, where he remains an idle spectator to his Queen's fate.

Move 32, White's Rook captures (x) Black's Queen, on h5, to bring an end to his Chess Windmill Attack.

1. ... Kh8
2. Rxf7+ ... Kg8
3. Rg7+ ... Kh8
4. Rxe7+ ... Kg8
5. Rg7+ ... Kh8
6. Rxd7+ ... Khg8
7. Rg7+ ... Kh8
8. Rxc7+ ... Kg8
9. Rg7+ ... Kh8
10. Rxa7+ ... Kg8
11. Rg7+ ... Kh8
12. Rxg6+ ... Kh7
13. Rg7+ ... Kh8
14. Rxg5+ ... Kh7
15. Rg7+ ... Kh8
16. Rxg4+ ... Kh7
17. Rg7+ ... Kh8
18. Rxg3+ ... Kh7
19. Rg7+ ... Kh8
20. Rxg2+ ... Kh7
21. Rg7+ ... Kh8
22. Kxa1

Move 1 begins with Black's King having to retreat from being "Checked" (+).

White's Windmill Attack is able to begin.

White's Rook, aided by the Defensive X-Ray Attack, from its Bishop, was never in danger of being captured by Black's King.

Instead, it is able to capture (x) its first victim - the Bishop, on f7 ...

In doing so, White's Rook opens the door to a Discovered Check (+), by White's Bishop; none of Black's pieces are able to come to the rescue and all Black can do is return his King to g8.

Moves 1-21 continue to see Black restricted to TWO squares - g8 and h8, respectively.

As for White, aided from distance by the Bishop, his Rook is able to pick-off each of Black's pieces.

Moves 2, 4, 12, & 16 ALL see White's Rook come within the attacking range of one of Black's Knights ...

BUT, Black can't do ANYTHING about the Rook as, each time, White's Bishop has the Black King caught by a Discovered Check.

The Windmill Attack ends, only when White's King captures Black's Rook, on Move 22 ...

However, just for good measure, White takes advantage of Black's open wounds and liberally applies the vinegar by whipping the two remaining Black Knights off the Board.

Black's pain is absolute.

Historical Game:
Byrne-Fischer, The Game of the Century,
New York, 1956

Move 18, White's Bishop captures Black's Queen, on b6, opening the door for Black to begin his Windmill Attack ...

Black begins by using his active Bishop to capture (x) White's Bishop, on c4, which put's White's exposed King in "Check" (+).

Move 19, White can only retreat his King to g1; Black's kNight then leaps over to e2, putting White's King in "Check" (+).

Move 20, White's King retreats to the relative safety of f1; Black's kNight captures (x) White's Pawn, from behind, on d4 and exposes White's King to another Discovered Check (+).

Move 21, White's King escapes, going back to g1; Black's kNight returns to e2, putting White's King back in "Check" (+).

Move 22, White's King, once more, finds the only safe square, is back on f1; Black's kNight leaps Queenside, to c3 and promptly puts White's King back in "Check" (+).

Move 23, White's King evades the Check, by returning to g1; Black's a-file Pawn captures (x) White's Bishop, on b6, to bring closure to his Windmill Attack.

(The following is not shown in the video clip.)

On Move 25, White subsequently rescues his Queen, from her current attack by Black's a8 Rook and then goes on to capture Black's Pawn, on b6.

Meanwhile, for Black's 25th Move, his Knight captures White's Rook, on d1, to add a further 5 points to his tally.

And, on Move 41, Black Wins the The Game of the Century, by "Checkmate", with the Windmill Attack playing no small part, it has to be said.