Academy | Tactics | Importance of Understanding Targets
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!
Knowing tactical patterns is important because patterns show you how tactics work. But even more fundamental than recognizing a tactical theme is being aware of the potential targets in a position.
Tactical targets create the conditions that make tactical themes possible. That is why understanding targets is such an important skill — it helps you uncover tactical opportunities that you might otherwise miss.
That is why, in the previous lessons, I made special effort to help you be aware of the common tactical targets in chess.