TACTICS

1. Fork
Definition:
● A fork is a chess tactic when a piece attacks two or more enemy pieces simultaneously.
● The attacking piece is known as the forking piece, while the attacked troops are known as
the forked pieces.

Which pieces can deliver a fork?

b
● Every piece (King, Queen, Knight, Bishop, Rook & Pawn) can deliver a fork.

lu
Example:

C
ss
he
C
ai
nn
he
C

Exercise #1: (Find the best move for White)

 b
lu
C
ss
Exercise #2: (Find the best move for Black)
he
C
ai
nn
he
C
2. Pin
Definition:
● A pin occurs when a piece is under attack and cannot move without exposing a more
valuable piece to capture.

Which pieces can pin?

● All the long-ranging pieces (Rook, Bishop, Queen) can create a pin.

Example:

b
lu
C
ss
he
C
ai

Exercise #1: (White to play & mate in 1)

nn
he
C
Exercise #2: (Black to play & mate in 2)

b
lu
C
ss
he
3. Skewer
Definition:
● A skewer is a chess tactic that happens when the more valuable piece is attacked, and
after moving it, a less valuable piece behind is left exposed.
C
● To use the skewer, you attack the file or diagonal where your opponent's pieces are lined up.

Example:
ai
nn
he
C
What is the difference between a Skewer and a Pin?
● A skewer is very similar to a pin, but there is one decisive difference.
● In a pin, the less valuable piece is first in the direct line of attack, while in the skewer, it’s
the more valuable piece that stands first.

Example:

b
lu
C
ss
he
C

Exercise #1: (Black to play & win)

ai
nn
he
C
Exercise #2: (Find the best move for Black)

b
lu
C
ss
he
C

4. Discovered attack
Definition:
ai

● A discovered attack happens when a player moves one piece out of the way to reveal a
previously blocked attack by another piece.
● The discovered check is a kind of discovered attack. It is usually more powerful than a
nn

regular discovered attack because it is a forcing move that requires the other player to react.

Example:
he
C
 b
lu
C
ss
he
Exercise #1: (Can Black capture the Knight on d4?)
C
ai
nn
he
C

Exercise #2: (Black to play & win)

 b
lu
C
ss
5. Double Check
he
Definition:
● It is a tactic in which a King is put in check by two pieces with a single move.
● Double check almost always occurs with a discovered check or discovered attack,
C
where one piece moves and exposes a new attack by a previously blocked piece.
● When a double check occurs, the checked king must move.

Example:
ai
nn
he
C
 b
lu
C
ss
Exercise #1: (White to play & win)
he
C
ai
nn
he
C

Exercise #2: (White to play & win)

C
he
nn
ai
C
he
ss
C
lu
b