What is a Forcing Move in Chess?

A forcing move is a move that leaves the opponent with very few legal or logical responses. The hierarchy of forcing moves, which should be calculated first, is: Checks, Captures, and Threats.

Forcing Chess Moves | ChessWorld.net

The key to tactical calculation is identifying Forcing Moves. These are moves that severely limit your opponent's options, often dictating the entire flow of the game. Always calculate in this order: Checks, Captures, and Major Threats (like Mate in 1).

1. Baumegger vs. Ragger

Baumegger, S vs. Ragger, M

1...Qxh2+
1...Qxh2+ {white resigned because of} 2.Kxh2 Rh6+ 3.Kg3 Bh4+ 4.Kh3 Bxf2++

2. Bellon Lopez vs. Ask

Bellon Lopez, J vs. Ask, J

1...Ra2+
1...Ra2+ 2.Kxa2 Qxc2+ 3.Ka1 Ra8+ 4.Qa4 {white resigned} Rxa4+ 5.bxa4 Qa2 mate

3. Bishop pair

Riemann vs. Anderssen

1...Qxf3+
1...Qxf3+ 2.gxf3 Bh3+ 3.Kf2 (3.Kg1 Re1+ 4. Kf2 Bh4#) Bh4+ 4.Kg1 Re1+ 5.Qf1 Rxf1++

4. Hausler vs. Tarrasch

Hausler vs. Tarrasch

1...Rh1+
1...Rh1+ 2.Kxh1 Qxh3+ 3.Nh2 3...Ng3+ and white resigned as his Q is lost

5. King in a tight spot

Unzicker vs. Dankert

1...Qg3+
1...Qg3+ 2.Rxg3 (2.Kh1 Qxf3 3.gxf3 Nf2+) 2...hxg3+ 3.Kh1 Nf2++

6. Minor pieces rule!

Papas vs. Oreopoulos

1.Nxd6+
1.Nxd6+ {wins the Q by} 1...Nbxd6 2.Bxd5+ or (1...Nfxd6 2.Bxd5+)

7. Never resign a won position (13)

Rijnsbergen vs. v. d. Weijden

1....Kxg7
1....Kxg7 2. Qxf6+ Kg8 3. Nh6+ Qxh6 4. Qxh6 Ne2+ 5. Kh1 Rxf1++

8. Reinderman vs. Brandenburg

Reinderman vs. Brandenburg

1.Rh8+
1.Rh8+ Kf7 2.Bg6+ {black resigned} Rxg6 3.R1h7+ Rg7 (4.Rxg7) 4.Qxg7 mate

9. Sharma vs. Madhukiran

Sharma vs. Madhukiran

1.Qxb8+
1.Qxb8+ {black resigned} Nxb8 2.Nb6 mate {note also Nb6+ is also winning but takes significantly longer}

10. Turning the tables

Adams vs. Reshevsky

1...Qxf1+
1...Qxf1+ 0-1 (2. Kxf1, Bb5+ 3.Bd3, Bxd3+ 4. Kg1, Re1++)

11. Recovering material

Janakiev vs. Jicman

1...Rxg1+
1...Rxg1+ 0-1 (2. Kxg1, Rxc1+ 3. Kf2, Rc2+ etc.)

12. Amonatov vs. Timofeev

Amonatov vs. Timofeev

1.Nxf7+
1.Nxf7+ Kh7 (1...Kxh5 2.Rh1+ Qh4 3.Qg5) 2.Qg6+ Nxg6 3.hxg6+ Kxg7 4.Bh6+ Kf6 5.Rdf1+

13. Anon vs. Blackburne

Anon vs. Blackburne

1...Rxg2+
1...Rxg2+ 2.Kh1 2...Rxh2+ 3.Kxh2 3...Rh6+ 4.Qh5 Rxh5+ 5.Kg1 Rh1 mate

14. Danger of undevelopment

Ostropolovski vs. Ivanovski

1.Qxd7+
1. Qxd7+, Rxd7 2. Nc7+, Rxc7 3. Rd8++

15. Lilienthal vs. Nezhmetdinov

Lilienthal vs. Nezhmetdinov

1...Qxh3+
1...Qxh3+ 2.Kxh3 Rh8+ 3.Kg2 Rh2+ 4.Kf3 Ne5+ 5.Ke4 f5+ 6.Rxf5 gxf5 mate

16. Never resign a won position (12)

Dekhanov vs. K.

1.g4+
1. g4+ fxg4+ 2. Nxg4+ g5 (2... Rc5 3. Nf6+ Qxf6 4. Qe2#) 3. Qe8+ Qg6 4. Nf6#

17. Vucinic vs. Carnic

Vucinic vs. Carnic

1.Nxb4!
1.Nxb4! {wins a piece} Rxd2? 2.Re8+ Kh7 3.Be4+ {black resigned} g6 4.Rh8 mate

18. Carlsen vs. Shirov

Carlsen vs. Shirov

1.Kg3
1.Kg3 Ra5 2.Bg6+ Kg5 {black resigned} 3.f4+ (3.h4+ gxh3 4.f4 mate) 3...gxf3 4.h4 mate

19. Kasparov (blindfold) vs. Mephisto

Kasparov vs. Mephisto

1.Rxg7+
1.Rxg7+ Kxg7 2.Bh6+ Kh8 3.Bg7+ Kxg7 4.Qg5+ Kf8 5.Qh6+ Ke8 6.Bg6+ Kd8

20. Maki Uuro vs. Jones

Maki Uuro vs. Jones

1...Rd1+
1...Rd1+ 2.Kh2 Rh1+ {white resigned} 3.Kxh1 Qf1+ 4.Kh2 Qxg2 mate

21. Marks vs. Mortensen

Marks vs. Mortensen

1...Qe3+
1...Qe3+ 2.Kh1 Ng3+ 3.hxg3 Rf6 and white resigned as ...Rh6 will mate.

22. Meskovs vs. Angskog

Meskovs vs. Angskog

1.Nxd5
1.Nxd5 Qxd2 2.Ba6+ Kd8 3.Bc7+ (3.Rb8+ Nxb8 4.Rxb8+ Kd7 5.Bc8+ Ke8 6.Bxe6#)

23. Popov vs. Petkov

Popov vs. Petkov

1.Rxf7!
1.Rxf7! Qxd2 2.Rxf8+ {black resigned} Rxf8 3.Ne7+ Kh8 4.Rxf8+ Bg8 5.Rxg8++

24. Simple combination

NN vs. NN

1.Rxg7+
1.Rxg7+ Nxg7 2.Qf7+ Kh8 3.Qf8+ Rxf8 4.Rxf8++

25. Svenn vs. Kinnmark

Svenn vs. Kinnmark

1.Qf5!
1.Qf5! threatens both Qxd7 and Qxh7 mate and if 1...Qxf5 2.Nf7#

Forcing Moves: Checks, Captures, Threats