--- title: "Windmill in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/windmill.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/windmill" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A windmill is a repeating pattern in which a rook moves away to give a discovered check, captures a piece, returns with check, and repeats." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-check.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-attack.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/battery.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/combination.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Windmill in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. A windmill is a repeating pattern in which a rook moves away to give a discovered check, captures a piece, returns with check, and repeats. A windmill is a repeating pattern in which a rook moves away to give a discovered check, captures a piece, returns with check, and repeats, winning another enemy piece with each swing. The windmill needs three things: a rook, a [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) or queen lined up behind it against the enemy king, and a king with almost no room. The rook sits on a square, such as g7, that blocks the long [diagonal](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md) to the king on h8. Every time the rook leaves that square it uncovers a check from the bishop, and the rook can take something on the way. Each swing has two halves. The rook [captures](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/capture.md) along the [seventh rank](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/seventh-rank.md) with a [discovered check](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-check.md), and the king has to step to g8. Then the rook returns to g7 with check, protected by the bishop, and the king has to go back to h8. Because every move is a check, the defender never gets time to react, and the rook can collect a piece or pawn with every second move. To find a windmill, look for a king stuck in a corner, a rook next to it that is protected by a bishop, and enemy pieces along the same rank. To defend, keep the king out of the corner, do not leave pieces on the rank where the rook can reach them, and consider giving up material early to break the line between the bishop and the king. In the diagram White to move plays Rxe7+. The bishop on b2 gives discovered check, and Black must play Kg8. Then Rg7+ Kh8 and Rxd7+ Kg8 follow, each swing winning another pawn, and the [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) on f8 blocks the king's only other square. ## Example position White to move plays Rxe7+. The rook leaves g7 and the bishop on b2 gives discovered check, so Black must play Kg8. White then returns with Rg7+ Kh8 and takes again with Rxd7+, winning a pawn on every swing. Position (FEN): `5n1k/3pp1R1/8/8/8/8/1B6/6K1 w - - 0 1` It sits close to [Ladder mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/ladder-mate.md). A ladder mate is a checkmate on the edge of the board in which two rooks, or a rook and a queen, take turns giving check on neighboring lines until the king runs out of room. Compare it with [Underpromotion](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/underpromotion.md). Underpromotion is promoting a pawn to a rook, bishop or knight instead of a queen, chosen because the lesser piece wins or draws more in the position at hand. A neighboring idea is [Vacating sacrifice](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/vacating-sacrifice.md). A vacating sacrifice gives up a piece so that it leaves, or is captured on, a square or line that another of your pieces needs, usually to deliver mate or win material. To see how often "Windmill" or a pattern like it decides your own games, book a [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): George Li reviews your games and writes a study plan around what he finds. ## Related terms - [Discovered check](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-check.md) - [Discovered attack](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-attack.md) - [Battery](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/battery.md) - [Combination](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/combination.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Discovered check in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-check.md) - [Discovered attack in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-attack.md) - [Battery in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/battery.md) - [Combination in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/combination.md) - [Chess terms: Tactics and combinations](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)