Real-game tactics 3: Discovered attacks, deflection and decoys

Pieces that unmask attacks, defenders dragged away from their posts, kings lured into the open. This is a tactics course with 8 lessons and 55 interactive exercises, suited to players rated around 1000 (improving players). 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 3: Discovered attacks, deflection and decoys

  1. Discovered attacks – Move one piece out of the way and the piece behind it attacks, while the moving piece makes its own threat.
  2. Deflection – Force a defender to leave its post, often with a sacrifice it has to take.
  3. Decoys: lure the king – A sacrifice that drags the king onto a bad square, where a check, a fork or mate is waiting.
  4. Removing the defender – If a piece or a square is guarded only once, take or chase away the guard and it falls.
  5. Pins – A pinned piece cannot move without exposing something more valuable behind it. Attack it again, or win what it guards.
  6. Mate in two – Two-move mates: a forcing first move, often a check or a sacrifice, leaves the king without a defence.
  7. Sacrifices that win – Giving material is fine when you get more back. Calculate the line to the end before you let the piece go.
  8. Forks and double attacks – One move, two threats: your opponent can only answer one of them.

All chess courses