Your pawn takes a central square and opens the way for the bishop and queen, the space every attacking plan grows from.

The standard poke that asks how they will defend.

A knight for a king dragged into the open.

King move or pawn block, both hurt.

Material level, king naked, hunt on.

Develop with check: the king has to keep walking.

Forced march: the king is past the point of return.

Quiet pawn move, loud point: the dark bishop joins with tempo.

The block must fall; mate follows when it does.

The king is pushed back into the net.

Mated by a pawn, with the whole army watching.