Puzzle Themes

Master every tactical pattern

Tactics

Fork

Attack two or more pieces simultaneously

781,815 puzzles

Pin

Restrict a piece from moving because it would expose a more valuable piece

366,063 puzzles

Skewer

Attack a valuable piece that must move, exposing a piece behind it

134,756 puzzles

Discovered Attack

Move one piece to reveal an attack from another

308,426 puzzles

Discovered Check

Move a piece aside to deliver check with the piece behind it

108,797 puzzles

Double Check

Deliver check with two pieces simultaneously

31,924 puzzles

Sacrifice

Give up material for a tactical advantage

459,732 puzzles

Deflection

Force a defending piece away from its duty

264,141 puzzles

Attraction

Lure a piece to a square where it can be exploited

221,076 puzzles

Overloaded Piece

Capture or divert a piece that is defending more than it can cover

39,872 puzzles

Hanging Piece

Capture an undefended piece

222,062 puzzles

Trapped Piece

Win a piece that has no safe squares

66,999 puzzles

Zwischenzug

Play an intermediate move before the expected recapture

73,026 puzzles

Clearance

Move a piece to open a line or square for another

80,366 puzzles

Interference

Block a line of defense by placing a piece in the way

21,971 puzzles

X-Ray Attack

Attack through another piece

21,731 puzzles

Zugzwang

Put the opponent in a position where any move worsens their position

63,821 puzzles

Quiet Move

A subtle non-capturing move that creates a decisive threat

255,381 puzzles

Defensive Move

A move that defends against a threat while improving position

368,191 puzzles

Attacking f2 / f7

Strike at the weakest square in the opponent's camp

44,812 puzzles

Checkmate

Mate in 1

Find checkmate in one move

898,212 puzzles

Mate in 2

Find checkmate in two moves

807,425 puzzles

Mate in 3+

Find checkmate in three or more moves

231,366 puzzles

Back Rank Mate

Checkmate on the first or eighth rank

206,205 puzzles

Smothered Mate

Checkmate by a knight where the king is trapped by its own pieces

24,039 puzzles

Arabian Mate

Checkmate with rook and knight

7,474 puzzles

Anastasia Mate

Checkmate with rook and knight against a king on the edge

7,441 puzzles

Boden Mate

Checkmate with two bishops on criss-crossing diagonals

3,720 puzzles

Double Bishop Mate

Checkmate using two bishops

3,710 puzzles

Dovetail Mate

Queen mate where the king's escape squares are blocked by its own pieces

4,013 puzzles

Hook Mate

Checkmate with rook, knight, and pawn pattern

10,625 puzzles

Pillsbury Mate

Checkmate with rook and bishop against a castled king

67,645 puzzles

Opera Mate

Checkmate with rook and bishop on the back rank

63,940 puzzles

Epaulette Mate

Checkmate where the king is boxed in by its own rooks

22,648 puzzles

Corner Mate

Checkmate with rook and knight against a king in the corner

10,783 puzzles

Swallowtail Mate

Queen mate where the king's only flight squares are self-blocked

8,397 puzzles

Triangle Mate

Queen and supporting piece mate in a triangular pattern

7,741 puzzles

Morphy Mate

Checkmate with bishop and rook against a fianchettoed king

7,133 puzzles

Blind Swine Mate

Checkmate with two rooks on the seventh rank

6,361 puzzles

Kill Box Mate

Rook and queen mate boxing the king into a 3x3 square

5,440 puzzles

Vukovic Mate

Checkmate with rook and knight supported against the edge

2,445 puzzles

Balestra Mate

Checkmate with queen and bishop cutting off every escape

1,364 puzzles

Pawn Play

King Safety

Game Phase

Outcome