Queen against Pawn!

Can a pawn on the seventh rank take down a mighty queen? Let’s dive into this game-changing strategy! Here we have a basic position from this commonly-reached endgame. White is up a queen, but the black pawn is constantly threatening…

Strong and Weak Pawns

Not all pawns are created equal, some are strong and some are weak. Let’s see what these small but mighty pieces can do. Your Move (You play white) Lots of pawns to take in the center! Find the right exchange…

Your Opponent!

In chess, you’ve got to be one step ahead of your opponent! Learn how to keep them on their toes by anticipating their moves. Why did White just play 3.Bc4? What is White threatening? Find it and stop it! Correct!…

Outposts

Tackle these test questions to really understand what an outpost is and how to use it. Your Move (You play white) White has a great knight on the outpost square e5, but doesn’t Black have an equally good outpost? How…

Pieces Working Together

No more tunnel vision! When chess pieces join forces you’ll start to see the whole board to solve problems. Your Move (You play white) The bishop needs the black king to be in the a8 corner to deliver a checkmate.…

When to Check?

Did you know it’s not always good to check? Let’s explore the right time to check and why. Your Move (You play black) What is the best way to meet White’s useless check – Qa4? Complete The lesson here is…

What’s Combination? or How Pieces work together?

A combination is a series of moves that get you an advantage. Often, you combine several tactical themes. Let’s see this double fork: White to move! Excellent! This fork requires that the bishop be captured. Black has won a piece. What’s the point?————————————–…

How to Plan?

Though not all checks are good, you must be aware of all the checks in a position. Missing a chance to check could mean missing a chance to checkmate! In this position, count all of the possible checks, then play…

When to trade?

Can you see a way for Black to trade off the knights and rooks using a tactic? Even if you don’t “win points” because Black is already ahead, a big trade could help! Correct! Great move! Black has captured a…