Phases & endgames
Opening tactics
Punish careless development in the first phase of the game.
What is the opening tactics?
Opening tactics arise in the first dozen moves, while pieces are still coming out and kings are often uncastled. They reward fast development and punish premature pawn-grabbing, neglected king safety, and the classic weak f7/f2 square.
Why the opening tactics matters
Most decisive club games are settled before move fifteen — by a trap, a hanging piece, or a king caught in the centre. Sharpening your opening tactics means you stop losing miniatures and start winning them.
How to use it to win
In the opening, count development and king safety before grabbing material. Look for tactics against an uncastled king, against an over-extended pawn, and on f7/f2 — and know the common traps in the lines you actually play.
Try an example puzzle
A real opening tactics puzzle from the app. Black to move — find the idea, then reveal the line.
1 
2 
4 
6 
h f 
e a 8 Show solution
1. ... Qxf2#
Drill the opening tactics on thousands of real puzzles, matched to your rating.