Exercises — Beginner
Positions to solve on the board, with a hint and a solution.
The fork that wins the queen
Level:BeginnerLook for the square where the knight attacks the king and the queen at once. Check that it is defended there before you jump.
- fourchette
- cavalier
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
The queen fork
Level:BeginnerTwo black pieces are defended by nobody. Find a square from which your queen looks at both of them — and where she is safe herself.
- fourchette
- dame
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
The pawn fork
Level:BeginnerA pawn captures diagonally, left and right. Are those two black knights really out of range?
- fourchette
- pion
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
The king-and-rook fork
Level:BeginnerThe same shape as the royal fork, for a smaller prize. Find the knight square that touches both black pieces at once.
- fourchette
- cavalier
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
The royal fork
Level:BeginnerA knight jumps in an L. Find the square from which one jump would touch both the king and the queen: the king must answer, and the queen will still be sitting there.
- fourchette
- cavalier
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 2 — the king has one square
Level:BeginnerBefore you check, count the squares the king can go to. The knight already covers two. If only one is left, look at what is waiting for him there.
- mat
- echec
- cavalier
- dame
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 1 — queen supported by her king
Level:BeginnerYour king already covers the squares in front of the black king. One rank is left to occupy, and the queen must get there without being taken.
- mat
- dame
- finale
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 1 — the last step of the ladder
Level:BeginnerOne rook already holds the seventh rank, so the king cannot come down. The other rook has just one step left.
- mat
- escalier
- tour
- finale
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 1 — the two bishops
Level:BeginnerOne bishop already covers the king's escape square. The other has to give check on the second diagonal — and only one square does it.
- mat
- fous
- diagonale
Not startedIn progress Solved
The back-rank mate
Level:BeginnerThe black king is shut in by its own pawns. Only the back rank is left to it — take it.
- mat
- couloir
- tour
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 1 — the corridor
Level:BeginnerLook at Black's three pawns. They shelter their king and, at the same time, they shut him in. Which rank has he got left?
- mat
- couloir
- tour
Not startedIn progress Solved
Opposition, then mate
Level:BeginnerThe rook cannot mate yet: the black king has two squares. Walk your king up to leave it only one, then mate.
- mat
- finale
- opposition
Not startedIn progress Solved