Tactical motifs
The building blocks of every combination. Forks, pins, skewers and their cousins win material out of nowhere. The moment you spot the shape, you spot the win.
Fork
One piece attacks two or more targets at once; the opponent saves only one.
Read more →Pin
A piece cannot move because a more valuable one sits behind it.
Read more →Skewer
Like a pin in reverse: the valuable piece is in front and must move.
Read more →Discovered attack
Moving one piece unveils an attack from the piece behind it.
Read more →Double check
Two pieces give check at once: the king is forced to move.
Read more →Sacrifice
Give up material now to win more (or to mate) later.
Read more →Trapped piece
A piece has no safe squares; surround it and win it.
Read more →Hanging piece
An enemy piece is undefended: simply take it.
Read more →Advanced pawn
A pawn deep in enemy territory, often one step from queening.
Read more →Removing the defender
Capture or trade the piece that guards your real target.
Read more →Attacking f2 / f7
The weakest square in the opening, guarded only by the king.
Read more →Kingside attack
Storming a king that castled on the kingside.
Read more →Queenside attack
Hunting a king that castled on the queenside.
Read more →Exposed king
A king stripped of defenders, a magnet for tactics.
Read more →Put these into practice on thousands of adaptive puzzles.