Chess Tactics on Mainline

35 tactical patterns: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks and more, each taught with plain-English explanations and drilled until you spot them automatically.

• Spot the Blunder: Check what the last move left unprotected.
• The Fork: Attack two pieces with one piece.
• The Pin: Restrict a piece by attacking what is behind it.
• The Skewer: Attack the front piece to expose the one behind.
• Zwischenzug (In-Between Move): Make the stronger threat before recapturing.
• Double Attack: Create two threats with one move.
• Discovered Attack: Move the piece blocking your own attack.
• Removing the Defender: Take the defender, then attack its target.
• Back-Rank Mate: Use a check when the king has no escape.
• Smothered Mate: Check with a knight when the king is surrounded.
• Deflection: Draw a defender away from what it protects.
• Overloading: Attack what one defender cannot protect together.
• Zugzwang: Make the opponent’s obligation to move matter.
• Attraction (Decoy): Bring a piece onto the square you need.
• Interference: Block the line between defender and target.
• Clearance Sacrifice: Clear a square or line for another piece.
• Winning Sacrifices: Give material for a concrete advantage.
• Boden's Mate: Use two bishops to cover the king’s escapes.
• Arabian Mate: Coordinate a rook and knight around a cornered king.
• X-ray Attack: Use the attack behind an intervening piece.
• Blind Swine Mate: Coordinate two rooks near the enemy king.
• Anastasia's Mate: Use a knight to restrict the king before the rook checks.
• Hook Mate: Coordinate the rook, knight and pawn.
• Morphy's Mate: Check with the bishop and restrict escapes with the rook.
• Opera Mate: Protect the checking rook with your bishop.
• Dovetail Mate (Cozio's): Use the queen while the king’s own pieces block escapes.
• Swallow's Tail Mate (Guéridon): Check in front of the king with a protected queen.
• Corner Mate: Use a knight to finish against a cornered king.
• Epaulette Mate: Use the pieces beside the king to limit escapes.
• Pillsbury's Mate: Check with the rook while the bishop restricts the king.
• Kill Box Mate: Use the queen to support the checking rook.
• Triangle Mate: Coordinate the queen and rook beside the king.
• Vukovic's Mate: Use a knight to restrict escapes for the rook.
• Balestra Mate: Check with the bishop while the queen covers escapes.
• Double Bishop Mate: Give check while the other bishop covers escapes.