Exercises — Intermediate
Positions to solve on the board, with a hint and a solution.
Attraction: the king comes to you
Level:IntermediateYour knight is dreaming of a square where it would check the king and attack the queen at once. That square only works if the king is somewhere else — so move him.
- attraction
- sacrifice
- fourchette
- cavalier
Not startedIn progress Solved
The absolute pin, and what it pays
Level:IntermediateThe black knight looks like it is defending something. Check the diagonal behind it before you believe that.
- clouage
- tactique
- fou
Not startedIn progress Solved
Attacking a pinned piece
Level:IntermediateA pinned piece cannot run away. So it is not a piece to grab straight off — it is a target to attack one more time.
- clouage
- pion
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
The discovered attack
Level:IntermediateYour rook and the black king are on the same file, with just one piece between them — yours. Where should it go so that leaving is worth something?
- decouverte
- cavalier
- tour
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
The double check
Level:IntermediateAgainst a double check you can neither capture nor block: the king simply has to move. Find the square where your knight gives check as well — and see what else it attacks from there.
- decouverte
- echec-double
- cavalier
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
Deflection in the endgame
Level:IntermediateThe black king is sitting on the promotion square. He will not leave of his own accord — but he cannot refuse a check.
- deviation
- finale
- pion
- tour
Not startedIn progress Solved
The skewer without check
Level:IntermediateNo check here — it is the value of the pieces that does the work. Line your bishop up on the queen, and look at what stands behind her.
- enfilade
- fou
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
The skewer: king in front, queen behind
Level:IntermediateThe king and the queen stand on the same file. Check the king: he has to move, and he cannot take the queen with him.
- enfilade
- tour
- tactique
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 2 — draw the rook in
Level:IntermediateThe black king is already nearly shut in by his pawns. One square is left — and his own rook can come and block it, if you make it.
- mat
- attraction
- sacrifice
- cavalier
- etouffe
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 2 — pull the guard away
Level:IntermediateBlack's rook holds the whole back rank. The bishop cannot replace it — a bishop does not watch a rank. Make them swap jobs.
- mat
- deviation
- couloir
- sacrifice
Not startedIn progress Solved
Mate in 2 — give up the queen
Level:IntermediateBlack's rook guards the back rank. It can only guard one thing at a time — make it capture something.
- mat
- sacrifice
- couloir
- tour
Not startedIn progress Solved
The overloaded defender
Level:IntermediateBlack's rook has two jobs: defend the bishop and guard the back rank. Ask it to do both at once.
- surcharge
- mat
- couloir
- tour
Not startedIn progress Solved