The Windmill Tactic
The Windmill is a devastating tactical pattern involving a series of discovered checks that allow a piece (usually a rook) to capture multiple enemy pieces in succession. It is one of the most destructive mechanisms in chess. Learn how to set up this "see-saw" attack and wipe your opponent's board clean.
Repeated Checks and Forced Destruction
The Windmill is a devastating tactical sequence where discovered checks allow a piece to capture multiple enemies freely.
1. The Most Famous Example
This is the game that made the Windmill famous. Carlos Torre sacrifices his Queen to unleash a "seesaw" of checks that decimates the World Champion's army.
Carlos Torre Repetto vs. Emanuel Lasker
Moscow, 1925
The Queen Sacrifice
25. Bf6!!
White offers his Queen! If Black takes with 25...Qxh5, the Rook on g3 and Bishop on f6 set up the deadly battery.
The Rampage
The Cycle Begins:
26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rxf7+ Kg8 28.Rg7+ Kh8...
The Rook captures on f7, then b7, vacuuming the board while the Black King is helpless.
The Aftermath
32. Rxh5
When the dust settles, White has regained the Queen and emerged with a winning material advantage (2 extra pawns). Game finished: 32... Kg6 33. Rh3 Kxf6 34. Rxh6+ Kg5 35. Rh3 Reb8 36. Rg3+ Kf6 37. Rf3+ Kg6 38. a3 a5 39. bxa5 Rxa5 40. Nc4 Rd5 41. Rf4 Nd7 42. Rxe6+ Kg5 43. g3 1-0
2. Alekhine's Masterpiece
Alexander Alekhine vs A. Fletcher
London, 1928 (Simul)
The Spark
26. Qxe4!
Alekhine sacrifices the Queen to open the e-file. After 26...fxe4, the Bishop on g2 becomes a laser beam.
The Spin
27. Bxe4+
The King is pushed into the corner. The Knight then hops in (Ng6+) to continue the discovered check sequence ending in mate.