Four puzzles, four patterns: the corner mate, the rook fork, the zugzwang and the pin. Each position below comes from a real game in the open Lichess database and is engine-verified. Set the position up, give yourself the same few seconds the video does, and only then read the solution. Best for players rated about 900 to 2600.
Puzzle 1: Corner mate (beginner, rated 946)
White to play. Black just played king takes on g8. It wins a rook, or so it seems. There is a forced mate here. Can you see how it starts?
Play it on Lichess before reading on: lichess.org/training/01IFr. It was rated 946 in the Lichess database we took it from; ratings there shift a little as people solve it.
Solution
- Qg6+ — White: Queen to g6, check.
- Kh8 — Black: King to h8.
- Nf7# — White: Knight to f7, checkmate.
Queen to g6, check. The king cannot go to f7, because our queen on g6 controls that square. The king must move. King to h8. Now, knight to f7, checkmate.
The pattern. A corner mate. The king is driven into the corner, a knight covers the escape, and a rook or queen delivers the final check.
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Puzzle 2: Rook fork (intermediate, rated 1444)
White to play. Black just played pawn to h6. And the black bishop on c8 has nothing defending it. Two targets, one move. Can you find the fork?
Play it on Lichess before reading on: lichess.org/training/01rEy. It was rated 1444 in the Lichess database we took it from; ratings there shift a little as people solve it.
Solution
- Rd8+ — White: Rook to d8, check.
- Kh7 — Black: King to h7.
- Bg8+ — White: Bishop to g8, check.
Rook to d8, check. The rook attacks the king on h8 and the bishop on c8 at the same time. Black steps out of check. King to h7. Now, bishop to g8, check. We offer the bishop, and the king cannot take it, because our rook on d8 protects it.
The pattern. A rook fork. The rook lands on a line where two loose pieces sit, or gives check while attacking a second piece.
Puzzle 3: Zugzwang (advanced, rated 2019)
Black to play. White just played pawn to h4. It looks safe. It is not. Something can be taken here. Can you see what, and why?
Play it on Lichess before reading on: lichess.org/training/037Ap. It was rated 2019 in the Lichess database we took it from; ratings there shift a little as people solve it.
Solution
- gxh4 — Black: Pawn takes on h4.
- Kxf4 — White: King takes on f4.
- Kg6 — Black: King to g6.
Pawn takes on h4. White takes. King takes on f4. King to g6.
The pattern. Zugzwang. Every move your opponent has makes their position worse, and they have to move.
Puzzle 4: Pin (master, rated 2516)
Black to play. White just played king to f1. Notice how close our knight on e2 and our rook on d2 are to the white king on f1. One piece cannot move without exposing another. Can you see which?
Play it on Lichess before reading on: lichess.org/training/030Zf. It was rated 2516 in the Lichess database we took it from; ratings there shift a little as people solve it.
Solution
- Qa1+ — Black: Queen to a1, check.
- Kg2 — White: King to g2.
- Ng3 — Black: Knight to g3.
- Qf5+ — White: Queen to f5, check.
- Nxf5 — Black: Knight takes on f5.
Queen to a1, check. The king cannot go to e1, because our queen on a1 controls that square. White steps out of check. King to g2. Knight to g3. We offer the knight. White tries queen to f5, check. Knight takes on f5. That wins the queen for our knight.
The pattern. A pin. The pinned piece cannot move without exposing something more valuable behind it, so it is really out of the game.
One puzzle at a time
Each puzzle is also a one-minute Short if you want to try one on the phone:
Sources and disclosure
Puzzles 01IFr, 01rEy, 037Ap, 030Zf from the Lichess open puzzle database (CC0). New puzzles every day on the RankUp Chess channel and on our videos page.