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It’s important to know chess tactics patterns because it supports an effective calculation method and will improve your tactical awareness.
Here’s a list of the important chess tactics patterns you should know.
Important Chess Tactics Patterns
Note: Check out the list of chess tactics to see examples of all the chess tactics patterns listed below.
Advanced Pawns
Attraction
Blocking / Interference / Obstruction
blocking a critical file or diagonal
Clearance
Clearing a square; Opening a critical square, file or diagonal
Combinations
Counter-tactics
Discovered Attack
Double Attack
A double attack is when you create multiple threats with one move. Although a fork and a double attack are often used interchangeably in chess, it’s technically not the same thing.
Double Check
The king must move.
Fork Tactics
A fork tactic is when one of your pieces are making multiple threats at the same time. Even though a fork is sometimes referred to as a double attack, it’s not the same thing. The main difference is that a fork refers to multiple threats made by one piece, whereas a double attack can involve multiple threats by more than one piece.
Hit-and-Run Tactics
Indirect Defense
Pawn Tactics
Pawn tactics are often overlooked because the focus is mostly on the pieces.
Pin Tactics
A pin is when a threatened piece cannot move without exposing an even more valuable piece (or target) behind it. The link below will take you to an in-depth study of pin tactics where you can learn the basics but also the advanced aspects of pin tactics:
Remove the Defender
.. Capture a defender .. Overload a defender .. Attack a defender
Simplification
into a winning endgame
Skewers
Skewers (sometimes referred to as a “reversed pin”) occur when an attacked piece must move to safety but will expose a lower-valued piece (or target) behind it. Skewers appear visually similar to pins, but their impact is very different.
Stalemate Tactics
Tactics to draw the game.
Trapped Piece
Weak Back-rank
X-Ray Tactics
An X-Ray tactic occurs when two of your pieces defend one another “through” an enemy piece. The X-Ray tactic should not be confused with a pin, skewer or discovered attack. (Although they share some similarities, the concept behind an X-Ray is unique).
Zugzwang
Zugzwang occurs when your position would’ve been fine if it were your opponent’s turn. But since it’s your turn you are forced to make a weakening move.
Zwichenzug
or In-between move.