Fundamental Chess Tactics

There's a tactical motif called distraction in chess whereby an opponent's piece is distracted from protecting a piece, square, rank or file. Learn it here!

Discover another essential tactical motif in chess: the decoy. Using a decoy forces a piece to a square which will then result in disadvantage for an opponent.

Did you know that it's possible to move one piece to achieve a tactical advantage against a chess opponent? The discovered attack is as powerful as it sounds.

What's more significant in a chess game than attacking a piece? Attacking two! In this chess lesson discover the double attack tactical motif.

When a king gets stuck in the back rank, it opens up the possibility of a back rank checkmate for the savvy chess player familiar with common chess tactics.

Pawn promotion in a chess game requires finding ways to promote one's pawns. It's simple enough, but there are tactical considerations to ensure it's done well.

In chess, a pin tactical motif occurs when a piece cannot move because it would expose a higher value piece to attack. Learn to exploit pins in chess games.

When playing chess, clearance is exactly what it sounds like: moving a piece out of the way to clear a square, diagonal, file or rank for another piece.

One important tactic in chess—called interference—involves cutting off a file, rank or diagonal of an opposing piece by moving one's own piece in between.

Capturing a defender may seem like a run of the mill chess move, but when done correctly, it is also an important tactical motif to employ in your next match!

Put your new chess tactical skills to the test in this engaging lesson with chess grandmaster Huschenbeth, and try nine hands-on chess exercises.

It's time to try a final test with grandmaster Huschenbeth in this culminating chess tactics lesson including ten unique exercises packed with chess tactics!