Puzzle themes
Pick one idea and practise it until it is automatic.
Tactics
- ForkOne piece attacks two at once.
- PinA piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable one behind it.
- SkewerA valuable piece is attacked and moves, leaving the one behind it.
- Discovered attackMoving one piece opens an attack by another.
- Double checkCheck from two pieces at once; only the king can answer.
- SacrificeGive up material now for something better later.
- DeflectionLure a defender away from what it guards.
- AttractionForce a piece onto a square where it can be exploited.
- ClearanceClear a square, file or diagonal for a follow-up.
- InterferencePut a piece between two that defend each other.
- IntermezzoAn in-between move before the expected one.
- X-ray attackA piece attacks or defends through another.
- Hanging pieceA piece left undefended, ready to take.
- Trapped pieceA piece with nowhere safe to go.
- Remove the defenderTake the piece that holds the position together.
- Quiet moveNo check or capture, but it sets up the win.
- Defensive moveThe only move that holds the position.
- ZugzwangAny move the opponent makes worsens their position.
Checkmates
- Mate in 1Deliver checkmate in one move.
- Mate in 2Deliver checkmate in two moves.
- Mate in 3Deliver checkmate in three moves.
- Mate in 4Deliver checkmate in four moves.
- Back-rank mateMate a king trapped behind its own pawns.
- Smothered mateA knight mates a king hemmed in by its own pieces.
- Anastasia's mateKnight and rook or queen trap the king on the edge.
- Arabian mateKnight and rook mate a king in the corner.