Academy | Tactics | Targets | Example #1
You’re probably aware of the importance of studying tactical patterns and may have heard chess players talk about them. But did you realize that patterns are actually specific ways to exploit the targets you’ve identified? Being attentive to these targets helps trigger your tactical awareness at exactly the right moment.
Usually, you need at least two targets to carry out a successful tactic, but even a single target can sometimes be enough—like checkmating an exposed king or piling up pressure on a pinned piece.
Let’s pretend for a moment that you have no knowledge of tactical patterns, and I point out that the White king on g1 is exposed on the dark diagonal while the White bishop on b4 is undefended.
Now I ask you, is there a way for Black to exploit both targets with one move?
If you see that 1… Qd4+ attacks the White king and bishop simultaneously, you have just discovered the tactical pattern known as a fork. And you did this simply by observing the targets and thinking logically about how to exploit them!
I can, and will, give you many more examples where you will be able to discover tactical patterns simply by observing the targets and thinking logically about how to exploit them.
Of course, knowing patterns is important, but my point is that being aware of the targets is the first step in finding tactics. That is why, in the following lessons, I will show you all the common tactical targets in chess.