Real-game tactics 2: Forks, pins and skewers

The three basic weapons of tactics, plus discovered attacks and mates in two. This is a tactics course with 7 lessons and 48 interactive exercises, suited to players rated around 800 (beginners). Every exercise is played on a real board with feedback after each move, there is nothing to install, and it is free.

Lessons in Real-game tactics 2: Forks, pins and skewers

1. Forks and double attacks – One move, two threats: your opponent can only answer one of them.
2. Skewers – A skewer is a pin the other way round: attack a valuable piece, and when it moves, take what stood behind it.
3. Discovered attacks – Move one piece out of the way and the piece behind it attacks, while the moving piece makes its own threat.
4. Back-rank mates – A king behind its own pawns can be mated on the back rank by a rook or a queen.
5. Mate in two – Two-move mates: a forcing first move, often a check or a sacrifice, leaves the king without a defence.
6. Removing the defender – If a piece or a square is guarded only once, take or chase away the guard and it falls.
7. Promotion tactics – A pawn on the 7th rank is a queen in waiting: clear the way, deflect the blocker, promote.

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