Practice tactics, calculation, and visualization with Kingscrusher’s annotated puzzle system. Short, focused lectures and instructive examples to help sharpen your tactical vision.
What makes this different from other tactics trainers?
You’re encouraged to calculate without hints and then check annotated video explanations. It’s like a tactical gym with real thinking pressure.
Do I need to know tactics already?
No! You’ll learn or reinforce each motif through repetition, visualization, and principle-based thinking.
Is this course for beginners?
It's designed for club players and up, but the bite-sized challenges make it useful for serious beginners too.
Where can I enroll?
View the course via the ChessWorld.net discount page.
How are the tactics examples organized?
The course progresses through examples of increasing difficulty, helping you build skills gradually and confidently.
What key ideas are reinforced during the lessons?
You'll learn to spot weaknesses from your opponent’s last move, understand positional downsides, and recognize tactical opportunities as you progress through each example.
Does the course include practice materials?
Yes, each section includes a downloadable PGN file at the end to review and practice the key positions on your own.
Can this course help improve calculation skills?
Absolutely. The course trains you to calculate deeply under realistic conditions, improving your tactical vision and accuracy over time.
🎥 Secrets of Chess Tactics – Free Video Lessons
Watch key tactical ideas from Kingscrusher’s Secrets of Chess Tactics YouTube series:
Top 100 Fun Chess Tactics Facts & Trivia
1. The “Fork”: Chess’s Most Tasty Tactic
The “fork” is the only chess tactic named after a dining utensil—because, like a fork, it “sticks” two pieces at once!
2. Smothered Mate: The Most Beautiful Knight Checkmate
The “Smothered Mate” is a checkmate delivered by a knight when the opposing king is surrounded by its own pieces—often called “the most beautiful mate.”
3. The Power of the Double Attack
The double attack is the most fundamental chess tactic—masters say, “If you see a good move, look for a better one—maybe a double attack!”
4. The Windmill: Devastation on Repeat
The “Windmill” is a rare but devastating tactical motif—one piece repeatedly checks, while another piece captures material on each swing!
5. Queen Forks: The Ultimate Multi-Tasker
The queen can fork up to eight pieces at once in certain rare positions.
6. Back Rank Mate: Everyone’s First Tactic
The “Back Rank Mate” is so well-known that some chess sets come with a puzzle demonstrating it!
7. Paul Morphy: Master of Pins and Double Attacks
Paul Morphy was famous for using pins and double attacks to win in under 20 moves.
8. Zwischenzug: The In-Between Surprise
The term “Zwischenzug” is German for “in-between move”—a surprise move that interrupts a sequence and often wins material.
9. Boden’s Mate: Double Bishop Finale
In “Boden’s Mate,” two bishops checkmate a king on the back rank—a pattern named after Samuel Boden.
10. Discovered Attack: The Peek-a-Boo of Chess
“Discovered attack” is a tactic where moving one piece reveals an attack by another—sometimes called “the chess version of peek-a-boo!”
11. Skewer: Pin’s Evil Twin
The “Skewer” is the tactical opposite of a pin—an attacked valuable piece must move, exposing a weaker piece behind.
12. Morphy’s Opera Game: A Tactical Masterpiece
In the famous “Opera Game,” Morphy used pins, forks, and discovered checks to defeat two opponents at once.
13. En Passant: The Sneaky Pawn Tactic
“En passant” is a pawn-only tactic that can capture a pawn that has just advanced two squares—a French phrase meaning “in passing.”
14. Tactical Themes: Over 1,000 and Counting
The chessboard has 64 squares—but over 1,000 unique tactical themes have been cataloged!
15. Deflection: Luring Defenders Away
“Deflection” is a tactic where you lure a defending piece away from protecting something critical.
16. Tal’s Magical Queen Sacs
Mikhail Tal, “The Magician from Riga,” once sacrificed his queen and two rooks—and won!
17. Remove the Defender: Most Overlooked Trick
Chess tactics books often list “Remove the Defender” as one of the most overlooked winning methods.
18. Brain Science: Tactics and Music Share Patterns
Some studies show the tactical skill of pattern recognition in chess uses the same brain areas as music improvisation!
19. The Greek Gift Sacrifice: Bishops Gone Wild
The “Greek Gift Sacrifice” is a classic bishop sacrifice on h7 (or h2) to lure out the king and attack.
20. Double Check: Checkmate’s Most Forcing Move
The “Double Check” is the only move in chess where two pieces check the king at once—the king must move!
21. Back Rank Clearance: Sacrifice for the Finish
There’s a pattern called “Back Rank Clearance,” where you clear the way for a back rank mate by sacrificing material.
22. Overloaded Defenders: Too Many Jobs
The “Overloaded Piece” is a defender that simply has too many jobs—tactics punish overworked defenders!
23. Magnus Carlsen: Master of Quiet Tactics
Magnus Carlsen is known for “quiet tactics”—subtle moves that set up devastating blows several moves later.
24. Computers: Tactics Solvers Extraordinaire
Computers are now so strong at chess tactics that they can solve mate-in-8 positions in seconds.
25. The Evergreen Game: The Cascade of Sacrifices
In the famous “Evergreen Game,” Adolf Anderssen played a cascade of sacrifices to deliver a stunning mate.
26. Underpromotion: Choosing a Knight for the Win
Some chess endgame tactics, like “underpromotion,” involve turning a pawn into a knight for a surprise attack.
27. X-ray Attack: See-Through Tactics
“X-ray Attack” is a tactic where a piece “sees” through another to attack a distant target.
28. Tactics: Greek Roots, Timeless Fun
The word “tactics” in chess is borrowed from the Greek “taktikos,” meaning “skilled in arranging.”
29. Chess Traps: Tactics in Disguise
Chess traps are often just a series of tactical threats hidden in plain sight!
30. Interference: Blocking Defenders at the Right Time
“Interference” is a tactic where you place a piece between an attacker and its target to block defense.
31. Simultaneous Exhibitions: Tactics at Lightning Speed
In simultaneous exhibitions, masters rely on tactics to quickly spot mistakes and win many games at once.
32. Alekhine’s Gun: The Triple Threat
The “Alekhine’s Gun” is a powerful battery: two rooks stacked in front of a queen, ready to blast through defenses.
33. Decoy: Luring to Disaster
In chess, a “decoy” is a tactic to lure a piece to a square where it can be attacked.
34. Fool’s Mate: The Two-Move Checkmate
The quickest possible mate—Fool’s Mate—can occur in just two moves using a queen and bishop.
35. Fischer’s Famous Bishop Sacrifice
In 1972, Bobby Fischer used a famous bishop sacrifice against Boris Spassky—one of the most replayed tactics in history.
36. Knight Forks: Beginner’s Tactical Weapon
The “Knight Fork” is the most common tactical theme in beginner games.
37. Online Tactics: Millions Solved Daily
Chess puzzles and tactical trainers have exploded in popularity online, with millions solved daily!
38. Combination: The Sequence of Brilliance
In tournament chess, a “combination” means a sequence of tactical moves—often crowned by a brilliant finish.
39. Pin and Win: Junior Coach’s Motto
“Pin and win!” is a favorite phrase of chess coaches when teaching tactics to juniors.
40. Blunders: Deciding Games in a Move
Many famous chess games have been decided by a single oversight—a missed fork or skewer.
41. Simultaneous Records: Tactics Needed for 600 Games
The world record for most chess games played simultaneously is over 600—tactics are essential to avoid blunders!
42. Clearance Sacrifice: Opening Lines for Attack
“Clearance sacrifice” is a tactic where you sacrifice a piece to open up a key square or line.
43. Underpromotion to a Knight: Rare But Deadly
“Underpromotion to a knight” is rare but sometimes the only way to deliver a tactic or checkmate.
44. Bishop Promotion: The Surprise Skewer
There’s a famous endgame study where a pawn is promoted to a bishop to deliver a surprise skewer.
45. Kasparov on Tactics: “They Flow from Superiority”
Garry Kasparov once said, “Tactics flow from a superior position.”
46. Middlegame Tactics: Born from Piece Activity
In the middlegame, tactics often spring from piece activity—active pieces create tactical chances!
47. Pawn Breakthrough: Tactical Way to Queen
“Pawn Breakthrough” is a tactical method to open lines and create passed pawns.
48. Tactics Trainers: Organized by Theme
Tactics trainers often rank puzzles by themes: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and more.
49. Puzzle Generators: Millions from One Database
Some chess programs can generate millions of tactical puzzles from their game database.
50. Mate-in-Two: The Puzzle That Started It All
The famous puzzle “White to play and mate in two” has inspired generations to love chess tactics.
51. Perpetual Check: Saving a Lost Game
A “perpetual check” can draw a lost game—a tactical weapon in desperate positions.
52. Quiet Moves: The Hidden Tactical Resource
“Quiet moves” are tactics where the best move isn’t a capture or check, but a calm positional nudge.
53. Queen Sacrifice: The Ultimate Shock Tactic
The “Queen Sacrifice” is the ultimate tactical surprise—when you give up the queen to force checkmate or a huge gain.
54. “Combination”: The Original Chess Buzzword
The word “combination” in chess dates back to the 19th century and means a forced sequence of tactical moves.
55. Grandmaster Warmups: Puzzles Before Play
Many grandmasters solve dozens of tactical puzzles as a warmup before games.
56. Real Game Puzzles: Learning from Blunders
In online chess, puzzles based on real games help players learn to spot common blunders and traps.
57. The Bishop Sacrifice on h7/h2: A Classic Name
The “Bishop Sacrifice on h7/h2” is known in Russian as the “Classic Sacrifice.”
58. Vigilance: Never Relax on Tactics!
Tactics can rescue a lost position or spoil a win—“Never relax your tactical vigilance!”
59. The Desperado: Last Stand of a Piece
There’s a tactical theme called “Desperado,” where a piece about to be lost takes as much material as possible.
60. Pillsbury’s Combination: Forcing Resignation
In the famous game Pillsbury vs. Gunsberg (1895), Pillsbury used a beautiful combination to force resignation.
61. Stalemate Trap: Drawing from the Brink
The “Stalemate Trap” is a tactical resource—sometimes, giving up all your pieces can force a draw.
62. The Brilliancy Prize: Reward for Tactical Genius
In some tournaments, the “brilliancy prize” is awarded to the best tactical finish.
63. Named Checkmates: Philidor, Anastasia, & More
Many checkmate patterns are named after people, like “Philidor’s Mate” or “Anastasia’s Mate.”
64. Queen and Bishop Battery: Classic Attack Setup
The “Queen and Bishop Battery” is a classic setup for both attacks and tactical tricks.
65. Tactics Sprints: Competing Online
Some chess apps let you compete in tactics “sprints” against other users worldwide.
66. Dvoretsky: Tactics as the Foundation of Mastery
Famous coach Mark Dvoretsky considered tactical vision the foundation of chess mastery.
67. Zugzwang: Tactics Forcing Helplessness
“Zugzwang” is a German word for a position where every move worsens your position—a frequent outcome of tactics.
68. The 290-Piece Mate-in-One: The Craziest Puzzle
The longest “mate in one” puzzle ever created had 290 pieces on the board!
69. Overprotection: Pre-Empting Tactics
“Overprotection” is a strategy where you add extra defenders—reducing your opponent’s tactical chances.
70. “Check for Tactics First!”
Many chess books advise: “If you can win material, do it—but only if you’ve checked for tactics first!”
71. The Knight on the Rim: Sometimes Deadly
“Knight on the rim is dim”—but sometimes that rim knight delivers the deadliest fork.
72. The Exchange Sacrifice: Petrosian & Shirov’s Weapon
The “Exchange Sacrifice” is a favorite tactical weapon of World Champions like Petrosian and Shirov.
73. Windmill Wipeouts: Losing an Army
Some tactics, like the “Windmill,” can net a whole army if the defender isn’t careful.
74. Chess960: Pure Tactics, No Theory
Chess960 (Fischer Random) is a chess variant that makes tactical training even more important since there’s no opening theory!
75. Blitz Chess: Tactics Decide Under Time Pressure
In blitz chess, even grandmasters fall for elementary tactics under time pressure.
76. In-Between Moves: The Game Turners
“In-between moves” (intermezzos) can completely turn the tables in a tactical skirmish.
77. The Killer Bishop: Dominating the Long Diagonal
“Killer Bishop” refers to a bishop that dominates the long diagonal and creates tactical threats.
78. Move Order Tricks: Even Masters Slip
“Move order tricks” often result in tactical blunders, even among strong players.
79. Bronstein: Creativity Is the Soul of Chess
Famous grandmaster David Bronstein believed creative tactics are “the soul of chess.”
80. World Champions & Queen Sacs: A Rite of Passage
Most world champions have at least one famous queen sacrifice in their best games collection.
81. Quiet Moves: Only Path to a Tactic
In some positions, only a “quiet move” can set up a winning tactical blow.
82. Kids & Mate in 1: The Starting Point
Many kids learn chess by solving tactical “mate in 1” puzzles before ever playing a full game!
83. Overloading: Sometimes Double or Triple!
“Overloading” is so common that some puzzles feature two or even three overloaded defenders!
84. Boden’s Mate: 1853 English Original
“Boden’s Mate” was named after the English master who first showed it in 1853.
85. Carlsen’s Favorite: The Joy of Combinations
Magnus Carlsen, when asked his favorite part of chess, said: “Tactics. The combinations.”
86. Knight Fork Power: Winning a Rook with a Single Check
The “Knight Fork” is so powerful that in many puzzles, a single check wins a whole rook.
87. Desperado Pawns: Going Down Fighting
The “Desperado” piece can even be a pawn, trying to take one last prize before capture.
88. Tactics Ratings: Tracked Separately Online
Many online sites rate your “tactics rating” separately from your chess rating.
89. Tactics Ladders: Clubs’ Puzzle Contests
Some club tournaments have “tactics ladders”—advance by solving tougher and tougher puzzles!
90. Endgame Tactics: Never Too Late
Tactics in chess can appear at any moment—even in seemingly quiet endgames.
91. The Reti Maneuver: King’s Tactical Waltz
The classic “Reti Maneuver” is a tactical king dance to save a pawn.
92. Swallow’s Tail Mate: Queen’s Artistic Finish
The “Swallow’s Tail Mate” is a rare but elegant checkmate with the queen.
93. Blunder Check: The Secret of Pros
“Blunder check” is a pro habit: always look for your opponent’s tactical threats before every move.
94. King Hunt: The Grand Chase
The “King Hunt” is a series of sacrifices and checks that chases the king across the board to mate.
95. Nakamura: Lightning Tactics
Hikaru Nakamura is famous for instantly spotting tactics even at lightning speed.
96. Lucena Position: Endgame’s Tactical Bridge
“Lucena Position” in rook endgames is built on a tactical idea: building a bridge!
97. The Double-Edged Blunder: Trap or Trick?
Sometimes a move that looks like a blunder is a deep tactical trap—double-check before capturing!
98. Quiet Sacrifices: Hardest Tactics to Spot
“Quiet sacrifices” (when the sacrificed piece isn’t immediately captured) can be the trickiest to spot.
99. Capablanca: Simplicity Hiding Tactics
World Champion José Raúl Capablanca was famous for simple-looking moves that concealed hidden tactics.
100. Daily Tactics: The Fastest Way to Improve
The fastest way to improve at chess? Solve tactics every day!
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