Learn chess tactics from the ground up with 21+ hours of expert video lessons. This course covers tactical themes like forks, pins, double attacks, sacrifices, and mating patterns—ideal for beginners to intermediate players.
✔️ Understand the core philosophy behind chess tactics and combinations
Learn how combinations arise from the downsides in your opponent’s position and how to exploit them decisively.
✔️ Use tactical motifs like Forks, Pins, Discovered Checks, Decoys, and more
Develop a practical understanding of all major tactical patterns and when to apply them.
✔️ Improve your calculation using “Weakness of Last Move” and “Common Squares” techniques
Detect hidden opportunities with tools like In-Effect squares and forcing move prioritization.
✔️ Master forcing move prioritization to limit your opponent’s responses
Train to always seek checks, captures, and threats of mate to create calculable trees of variation.
✔️ Spot tactical “down-sides” in your opponent’s position before they become obvious
Use recurring ideas like weak back ranks, king safety issues, or hanging pieces to spark combinations.
✔️ Learn to celebrate tactical vulnerabilities rather than miss them
Shift your mindset to actively look for imbalances and convert them into material or mating gains.
✔️ Apply combinations even in quiet-looking positions where tactics seem unlikely
Some of the best tactical shots occur in calm positions — you’ll learn to sense and execute them.
✔️ Recognize and reuse classic combinations from World Champions like Tal, Morphy, Fischer
Use real master games to form a visual and intuitive tactical library in your mind.
✔️ Learn how to win by force using beautiful and instructive combinations
Explore aesthetic, high-accuracy tactical sequences and learn how to calculate them yourself.
✔️ Detect if a combination exists using practical detection frameworks
Use multiple lenses like “overloaded pieces,” “loose pawns,” and “opposite-colored bishops” to sense tactical triggers.
✔️ Use tactical motifs to finish games quickly and dominate online blitz/rapid
Sharpen your reflexes and recognition skills to capitalize on fast time controls or fatigue-based mistakes.
✔️ Play with tactical confidence in tournaments and online arenas
Move from “hoping” a tactic works to “knowing” it does through the training in this course.
✔️ Practice and reinforce through puzzles, PGNs, and annotated examples
Use downloadable material and interactive lessons to drill core ideas and build muscle memory.
✔️ Recognize all classical mating patterns and how they apply practically
Back-rank mates, smothered mates, and more — you’ll know them and how to force them.
✔️ Learn why tactical mastery is the biggest lever for rapid improvement
Tactics win games. This course helps you spot and seize those chances in every phase of play.
Fork
One piece attacks two or more enemy pieces simultaneously.
Pin (Absolute)
A piece cannot move without exposing the king.
Pin (Relative)
A piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece.
Skewer
A high-value piece is attacked and forced to move, exposing a weaker piece.
Double Attack
A single move creates two threats at once.
Discovered Attack
A piece moves to reveal an attack from another piece.
Discovered Check
A discovered attack that also checks the king.
Double Check
The king is attacked by two pieces simultaneously.
Removing the Defender
Capture or force away a piece that protects another.
Decoy
Lure an opponent’s piece onto a square where it becomes vulnerable.
Deflection
Force a key defending piece away from its duty.
Interference
Disrupt the connection between enemy pieces.
Zwischenzug
An unexpected intermediate move that changes the outcome.
Overloading
A single piece is given too many defensive responsibilities.
Trapping a Piece
Restricting a piece so it cannot escape capture.
Back-Rank Mate
Checkmate delivered on the back rank, usually by a rook or queen.
Smothered Mate
Knight mates a king surrounded by its own pieces.
Arabian Mate
A rook and knight cooperate to checkmate a cornered king.
Anastasia’s Mate
A rook and knight combine to mate along the edge.
Boden’s Mate
Two bishops coordinate on crossing diagonals to mate.
Hook Mate
Queen checkmates the king with a pawn preventing escape.
Greco’s Mate
Classic mating net involving sacrifice to lure the king.
Cozio’s Mate
A rare knight and rook checkmate pattern.
Epaulette Mate
The king is blocked by its own rooks on either side.
Damiano’s Mate
An old mate pattern involving early king-side exposure.
Legal’s Mate
Early trap involving a knight sacrifice to expose the king.
Fool’s Mate
Fastest possible checkmate (after 1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4#).
Scholar’s Mate
Common beginner’s mate via the f7 square.
Underpromotion Tactic
Promote to a piece other than a queen for tactical reasons.
Zugzwang
Any move weakens the position; often occurs in endgames.
Desperado
A piece is sacrificed before being lost anyway.
Trapped Queen
The queen is attacked and has no safe escape.
Windmill
Repeated discovered checks with capture after capture.
Clearance Sacrifice
Vacate a square or file for a tactical idea.
Attraction
Force a king or piece to a vulnerable square.
Line Clearance
Free a diagonal or file for a tactical idea.
Pawn Breakthrough
Sacrificing pawns to open paths in the endgame.
Quiet Move
A subtle move that sets up a hidden threat.
Mate Threat to Win Material
Use checkmate threats to gain material.
Rook Lift
Swinging the rook via the third or fourth rank for attack.
Bishop Sacrifice on h7
Also called the Greek Gift; king-side assault.
Opposition Trap
Tactical use of king opposition in endgames.
King Hunt
Drive the king into the open and deliver mate.
Gambit Trap
Use a sacrificed pawn for quick tactical punishment.
En Passant Tactic
A surprising capture that breaks open position.
Exchange Sacrifice
Rook for minor piece to gain initiative or attack.
Opening Trap Combo
Well-known lines that punish early inaccuracies.
Endgame Tactical Motifs
Use zugzwang, breakthrough, and opposition.
Time Trouble Exploits
Use sharp tactics when opponent is low on time.
Tempo Loss Punishment
Seize initiative after opponent wastes time.
Anastasia’s Mate
A knight checks the king on the edge, while a rook delivers mate by cutting off escape squares.
Arabian Mate
Classic corner checkmate using a knight and rook working together, often trapping the king on h8 or a8.
Back-Rank Mate
The king is trapped behind its own pawns and mated by a rook or queen along the back rank.
Smothered Mate
A knight delivers checkmate to a king completely surrounded by its own pieces, usually on the edge.
Boden’s Mate
Two bishops checkmate the king on criss-crossing diagonals, usually after a castling weakness.
Hook Mate
The queen mates the king with the support of a pawn or piece cutting off its escape square like a hook.
Cozio’s Mate
A rarely seen mate pattern using a knight and rook in combination to trap the king on the edge.
Epaulette Mate
The king is mated while trapped between two of its own rooks, with no escape sideways.
Légal Mate
An early trap involving a knight sacrifice followed by a queen or bishop mate, exploiting weak development.
Opera Mate
Famous from Morphy's Opera Game, this pattern uses development and tactics to trap a king quickly.
Blind Swine Mate
Two rooks penetrate the 7th rank and deliver mate, often against an exposed king.
Anderssen’s Mate
Often features sacrifices leading to a rook or bishop finishing the king near the center.
Dovetail Mate
The queen mates a king surrounded by its own pieces forming a V-shaped barrier.
Damiano’s Mate
Uses a queen and bishop to checkmate a king early on f7 or f2, exploiting undeveloped defenses.
Fool’s Mate
The fastest possible checkmate in chess (1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4#).
Scholar’s Mate
A simple beginner’s mate involving queen and bishop targeting the weak f7/f2 square.
Greco’s Mate
A powerful example of using tactical sacrifices to lure a king into a mating net.
Kill Box Mate
A queen and bishop (or pawn) create a box around the king, cutting off escape squares before delivering mate.
Ladder Mate
Two rooks (or queen and rook) force the king to the edge with a series of back-and-forth checks.
Mayet’s Mate
Includes a knight and queen/bishop combining to restrict the king’s mobility and deliver mate.
Pillsbury’s Mate
A diagonal attack from bishop and queen targeting f7/f2 while a knight blocks escape.
Support Mate
A piece delivers mate with direct support from another piece guarding escape squares.
Box Mate (Rook Mate)
Similar to Kill Box but with a rook hemming in the king and a second piece delivering mate.
Reti’s Mate
Queen and knight combine to trap a king with help from opponent’s own pawns or pieces.
Queen & Bishop Mate
A queen and bishop cut off the king’s squares and deliver mate from different angles.
King and Two Bishops Mate
A classic endgame mate where bishops and king slowly force the enemy king to the corner.
King and Two Knights Mate
Technically not possible without cooperation, but can appear in practical games with trapped kings.
David and Goliath Mate
Usually features a minor piece delivering mate with the opponent unable to recapture due to tactical motifs.
Combine and Win Mate
A non-standard pattern involving multiple tactical ideas like decoys and forks to finish the game.
Corner Mate
The king is driven into the corner and mated using limited space and one or two attackers.
Max Lange Mate
Named after the opening tactician, it usually involves a bishop and queen targeting f7/f2 after rapid development.
Swallow’s Tail Mate
The king is mated by a queen with its escape blocked by its own pawns, shaped like a bird’s tail.
Suffocation Mate
The king is surrounded with no mobility, typically involving knights and pawns restricting escape.
Who is this chess tactics course designed for?
This course is ideal for beginners to intermediate players who want to master tactical patterns like forks, pins, and discovered attacks.
How long is the course?
The course includes over 21 hours of detailed video lessons and model games.
What topics are covered in the course?
You’ll learn tactical motifs such as forks, pins, decoys, discovered attacks, and checkmate patterns like the smothered mate and back-rank mate.
Does the course include practice material?
Yes! PGN downloads, quizzes, and annotated games are included to help reinforce your tactical skills.
Who is the instructor?
The course is taught by Tryfon Gavriel, also known as Kingscrusher, a popular chess educator with a passion for tactics.
How can I improve my tactical vision in chess?
Improving tactical vision takes consistent exposure to patterns. This course builds your recognition skills through annotated model games, targeted motifs, and structured practice.
Is this course suitable for blitz and rapid players?
Yes! Many examples and tips are applicable to faster time controls, helping you spot tactics quickly and punish common mistakes in blitz and rapid games.
Are real games used to teach the tactics?
Absolutely. The course features famous tactical games from players like Morphy, Tal, and Fischer, alongside Kingscrusher’s own instructive encounters.
Can this help me win more games in online chess?
Definitely. The course sharpens your ability to recognize tactical errors from opponents and convert them into winning positions in practical online games.
Do I need to memorize tactical names?
No memorization is required. The focus is on intuitive understanding and pattern recognition so you can apply tactics naturally during your games.
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