ChessAnalyzerChess tactics, explained with real puzzles
Most games below master level are decided by tactics. Each page explains one tactical idea and gives you puzzles from real positions — every solution verified by Stockfish 18 as the only winning move.
Checkmate
A checkmate ends the game at once, so always look for checks first. Count the escape squares around the enemy king: if every one is covered or blocked, a single…
6 puzzles
Back-rank mate
A king that has castled behind three unmoved pawns has no air. A rook or queen landing on its first rank is mate unless something can block or capture. Always c…
10 puzzles
Forks
A fork is one piece attacking two or more targets at once. The opponent can only save one of them. Knights are the classic forking piece because nothing can blo…
10 puzzles
Pins
A pin attacks a piece that cannot move without exposing something more valuable behind it. When the piece behind is the king, the pin is absolute and the pinned…
10 puzzles
Skewers
A skewer is a pin in reverse: the valuable piece stands in front. When it steps aside, the piece behind it is captured. Rooks, bishops and queens skewer along l…
7 puzzles
Discovered attacks
Moving one piece can uncover an attack by the piece behind it. The moving piece is free to make its own threat at the same time, so the opponent faces two probl…
8 puzzles
Trapped pieces
A piece with no safe square is as good as lost. Look for enemy pieces deep in your half or on the edge of the board, attack them, and check where they could esc…
4 puzzles
Removing the defender
If a piece is only defended once, capture or chase away the defender and the piece falls. Ask of every enemy piece: what defends it, and can I remove that defen…
8 puzzles
How to train tactics
Solve a few puzzles every day rather than many once a week. Before moving, look at every check, every capture and every threat — for both sides. When you get one wrong, play through the solution until you can see why it works; recognising the pattern is the goal, not the single answer.