ChessAnalyzerCheckmate: chess tactics explained, with 6 puzzles
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 check can be mate.
Every puzzle below comes from a real game position, and every solution was verified with Stockfish 18: each move you need to find is the only good move — the second-best alternative is at least two pawns worse. Try to solve each one before opening the solution.
Puzzle 1 Beginner
White to move. Checkmate in one move.
Hint
Start with a check. Which squares can the king still reach?
Solution
31. Qxg7#
Qxg7# is checkmate: the king has no square to run to and nothing can block or capture.
Puzzle 2 Beginner
Black to move. Checkmate in one move.
Hint
Start with a check. Which squares can the king still reach?
Solution
31… Nb3#
Nb3# is checkmate: the king has no square to run to and nothing can block or capture.
Puzzle 3 Beginner
White to move. Checkmate in one move.
Hint
Start with a check. Which squares can the king still reach?
Solution
14. Qf7#
Qf7# is checkmate: the king has no square to run to and nothing can block or capture.
Puzzle 4 Beginner
Black to move. Checkmate in one move.
Hint
Start with a check. Which squares can the king still reach?
Solution
27… Bxf6#
Bxf6# is checkmate: the king has no square to run to and nothing can block or capture.
Puzzle 5 Beginner
White to move. Checkmate in one move.
Hint
Start with a check. Which squares can the king still reach?
Solution
1. Nf7#
Nf7# is checkmate: the king has no square to run to and nothing can block or capture.
Puzzle 6 Intermediate
Black to move. Force checkmate in 2 moves.
Hint
Start with a check. Which squares can the king still reach?
Solution
27… Qg1+ 28. Rxg1 Nf2#
27… Qg1+ 28. Rxg1 Nf2#. Every move is forcing, and the king ends up with no escape: mate in 2.
Other tactics
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 …
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 bec…
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 abs…
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 q…
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 oppo…
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 …
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…