Exercises — tactique
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
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
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