Tactics

Concrete short-range play that exploits threats and replies the opponent cannot avoid without suffering an immediate loss.

A concrete intention to cause a loss or achieve an objective on a later move if the opponent does not respond.

A calculated sequence of moves that demand or tightly restrict replies and aim at a concrete result.

A move that demands a reply and is inserted before the expected action to change the result of a sequence.

A move that neither checks the king nor captures immediately, but prepares or strengthens an important threat.

A single move that creates two distinct threats at once and makes it difficult to answer both.

A move in which one piece attacks two or more opposing targets at the same time.

An attack revealed when one piece moves away and opens a line for another friendly piece.

A repeating sequence of attacks on the king that confines it while one piece makes captures.

A line tactic in which moving one piece would expose a more important target behind it.

A pin in which moving the piece in a certain way would expose its own king to check and would therefore be illegal.

A pin in which the piece may move legally but would expose a valuable target or serious threat behind it.

A situation in which the same piece is restricted by two or more pins along different lines.

An action that frees a piece restricted because moving it would expose the king or another important target.

A line tactic that attacks a valuable front piece and captures the exposed piece behind it after the front piece moves.

Long-range influence exerted through a piece that stands on the same line as the eventual target.

An alignment of two or more rooks, bishops, or queens concentrating their action along the same line.

A formation with the queen behind both rooks on the same file, concentrating pressure along that line.

A tactic that exploits a defender required to perform two or more incompatible duties.

A tactic that forces a defending piece away from an important duty, square, or line.

A tactic that forces an enemy piece, often the king, onto an unfavorable square.

A tactic that draws an enemy piece to a particular square where it becomes vulnerable or enables another sequence of threats.

A tactic that captures a defending piece so an important piece, square, or line becomes vulnerable.

An attack on the support of a piece or structure so the main target loses its defense.

A move that gets a friendly piece out of the way to free a square or line needed for another idea.

A form of clearance that removes a friendly piece from a file, rank, or diagonal to open another piece's action.

A tactic that inserts a piece into an enemy line to break an important defense or coordination.

A move that blocks an important line so a piece can no longer attack, defend, or coordinate through it.

A piece the opponent can capture immediately for material gain because it is undefended or inadequately defended.

A piece with no safe escape route that can be won or left unable to participate effectively.

A piece that is likely to be lost and extracts as much value as possible before being captured.

A practical maxim warning that pieces without sufficient protection often become targets of threats, captures, and material loss.

A pawn that looks free but whose capture gives the opponent a greater immediate or lasting advantage.

An early sequence in which a plausible but inaccurate reply permits an immediate material gain or attack on the king.

An intentional offer of pawns or pieces made to obtain a more valuable result, sufficient benefit, or a concrete objective.

An offer of pawns or pieces with a calculable outcome such as recovery, greater gain, checkmate, or a forced draw.

A sacrifice whose compensation is not immediate material recovery through an unavoidable sequence of moves.

An investment of pawns or pieces without immediate recovery, made for activity, a better pawn arrangement, or lasting control.

The intentional trade of a rook for a bishop or knight to gain immediate threats or lasting advantages.

The voluntary surrender of the queen for checkmate, sufficient material, lasting activity, or another form of compensation.

The deliberate surrender of a rook for checkmate, activity, pawns, safety, or another form of compensation.

A typical bishop sacrifice on the pawn beside a king sheltered near a corner, intended to open that shelter for an attack.

An offer of a piece or pawn that forces an enemy defender away from an essential duty or square.

The sacrifice of a friendly piece to free a square or line needed by another piece.

A sacrifice that gives up a friendly piece to vacate its square for another piece of the same side.

A voluntary material concession made to stop an attack, avoid a greater loss, or reach a position that can be saved.

A deliberate material concession made in response to an opponent's sacrifice or attack in order to redirect or neutralize it.