Tactical motifs
Nearly every game is decided by a pattern you either know or don't. Seven motifs to recognise at a glance.
Level:Intermediate
The fork
One piece, two targets — and the knight that hits both from a square nothing defends.
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The pin
Absolute pins, relative pins, and the real profit: a pinned piece is a bad defender.
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The skewer
A pin in reverse: the big piece in front, the small one behind — the motif that wins the most queens in endgames.
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The discovered attack
The front piece steps aside and does as it pleases while the piece behind gives check. And double check, against which there is no defence at all.
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Deflection
Don't look at what you can attack — look at what is defending. Often a single piece holds the whole position up.
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Attraction
The opposite of deflection: a sacrifice that drags an enemy piece exactly where you want it.
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Overloading
One piece, two jobs — the quietest of the seven motifs, and the most common in real games.
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