The Complete Chess Tactics Glossary: 60+ Essential Patterns
A chess tactic is a short sequence of moves that limits the opponent's options and results in tangible gain. While strategy is the long-term plan, tactics are the punches that knock the opponent out. Use the filters below to find specific patterns.
1. Fundamental Tactics & Mates
Forcing an enemy piece (often the King) onto a square where it becomes vulnerable to a follow-up tactic.
A checkmate delivered by a Rook or Queen on the 8th rank because the King is trapped by its own pawns.
Lining up two or more pieces (Rooks, Queen, Bishops) on the same file or diagonal to multiply their power.
- Alekhine's Gun: Two Rooks stacked behind a Queen.
- Queen + Bishop: The classic battery for delivering checkmate on g7 or h7.
Moving a piece (often with a sacrifice) solely to open a square or line for a more powerful piece.
Forcing a key defender to leave its post (e.g., capturing a piece it is protecting). Once the defender moves, the target falls.
The fastest possible checkmate (2 moves), occurring if White weakens their King's diagonal immediately.
Pieces cooperating to cut off escape squares for the King, often leading to a forced mate.
Capturing or distracting a piece that defends a key target.
The famous 4-move checkmate attacking the weak f7 square with a Queen and Bishop.
Removing the guard or weakening the base of a pawn chain (similar to Removing the Defender).
When a long-range piece attacks a square "through" another piece. It implies that the first piece is not actually safe.
A defensive miracle where one piece protects another "through" an enemy piece.
2. Forks, Pins & Skewers
A single piece attacking two targets simultaneously. The Knight is the most famous forking piece.
A simultaneous attack on two targets. While often synonymous with a Fork, it can also refer to a move that creates two distinct threats (e.g. Mate and capture).
A piece is pinned to the King. It is illegal to move it.
A piece is pinned to a valuable target (like a Queen). Moving it is legal, but loses material.
A rare situation where a piece is pinned from two different directions (vertical and diagonal). It is completely paralyzed.
The "Reverse Pin." You attack a valuable piece (King/Queen), forcing it to move and exposing a lesser piece behind it.
3. Discovered Attacks
Moving a piece to unmask an attack from a piece behind it. The moving piece can often capture freely.
A powerful variant where the revealed piece delivers a check, forcing the King to respond immediately.
The most powerful move in chess. The King is attacked by the moving piece AND the unmasked piece. The King must move; it cannot block or capture.
A devastating series of alternating checks and discovered checks (usually Rook + Bishop) that can wipe out an entire board.
4. Sacrificial Themes
Sacrificing a Bishop on h7 (or h2) to destroy the King's pawn cover. Requires a Knight and Queen ready to jump in.
Sacrificing a piece simply to destroy the wall of pawns protecting the King, leaving him naked against heavy pieces.
When a piece is trapped and going to die anyway, it sacrifices itself for the highest possible value (e.g., capturing a pawn) before dying.
Giving up a Rook for a minor piece (Knight/Bishop) to gain long-term strategic compensation.
Sacrificing material to force the King out of safety and into the open, often leading to mate.
5. Endgame Tactics
A checkmate pattern where two rooks invade the 7th rank (the "pigs") and devour everything.
A King maneuver used to "lose a move" and pass the turn to the opponent, putting them in Zugzwang.
Promoting a pawn to a Knight or Rook instead of a Queen. usually to deliver a checkmate or avoid a stalemate.
Sacrificing one or two pawns to create a Passed Pawn that cannot be stopped.
A defensive tactic. Forcing a draw by checking the enemy King endlessly when you are losing material.
Deliberately putting your King in a position where it has no moves, then sacrificing your last mobile piece (The "Mad Rook") to force a draw.
6. Advanced Motifs
A geometric checkmate where a Knight traps the King against the board edge while a Rook delivers mate on the open file.
A classic checkmate pattern delivered by a Rook and Knight working in unison to trap the King in a corner.
German for "In-between move." Instead of recapturing immediately, you play a surprise check or threat first.
Blocking a check with a piece that also delivers a check to the opponent. It forces the trade of pieces and is a powerful defensive weapon.
Placing a piece on a square where it cuts off the line of defense between two enemy pieces.
Distracting a piece that has too many defensive jobs at once.
Advancing pawns on one wing to attack the enemy King.
A beautiful Knight mate where the King is blocked in (smothered) by its own pieces.
Surrounding a piece so it has no escape squares. Often leads to winning the trapped piece.
Capturing an enemy piece with a piece that was under attack, thereby winning material and escaping to safety in one motion.
Want to practice these? Visit our Training Tools Guide to find software that drills these specific patterns.