Hall of a Hundred Columns · Twelve motifs
WorksheetEvery click puts together 20 new puzzles of Motifs at random to print – or 10, 30 or 40, 10 a page, with a page of solutions if you like.As a PDF: choose “Save as PDF” in the print window of the browser.Twelve motifs, one idea: the blow the opponent cannot parry.
Every combination is built on a few basic patterns. Whoever knows them finds the decisive move faster. For every motif an explanation, how to recognise it, and an example from a master game.
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White to move · 2019Magnus Carlsen – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
One piece attacks two targets at once. The knight is its best-known master.
How do you recognise it?Two unprotected or more valuable pieces stand so that a single square reaches both – often one of them is the king, and the attack comes with check.
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Black to move · 2016Levon Aronian – Magnus Carlsen
A piece may not or cannot move, because a more valuable one behind it would fall.
How do you recognise it?A bishop, rook or the queen aims through an enemy piece at the king, the queen or a rook.
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White to move · 2013Sergey Karjakin – Magnus Carlsen
The reverse pin: the valuable piece stands in front, has to move and gives up the one behind.
How do you recognise it?King or queen stand with another piece on the same file, rank or diagonal – and one of your long-range pieces can enter that line.
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White to move · 2019Liren Ding – Magnus Carlsen
A piece moves away and opens the line of another. With check it becomes a discovered check.
How do you recognise it?One of your pieces blocks the line of your own bishop, rook or queen, and beyond that line stands a worthwhile target.
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Black to move · 2018Wesley So – Fabiano Caruana
Two pieces give check at once. Blocking or capturing cannot help, only the king can move.
How do you recognise it?The enemy king stands on the line of one of your pieces that is covered only by another of your pieces – and that one can move away with check.
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White to move · 2019Garry Kasparov – Fabiano Caruana
A defender is lured away from its job, and the position behind it collapses.
How do you recognise it?An enemy piece is the only guard of a square or a piece – ask yourself how you can lure it away from there.
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Black to move · 2013Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
A sacrifice forces an enemy piece, usually the king, onto a fatal square.
How do you recognise it?There is a square where the enemy king or queen would be vulnerable – and a sacrifice on exactly that square.
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White to move · 2017Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
One piece has two jobs at once and in the end manages neither.
How do you recognise it?An enemy piece guards more than one important target – take or attack one of them and see what is left unguarded.
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Black to move · 2017Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen
A square or a line is cleared so that another piece can use it.
How do you recognise it?A strong square or an open line could be used at once if one of your own pieces did not stand in front of it.
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Black to move · 2012Magnus Carlsen – Vassily Ivanchuk
Instead of the expected reply comes a stronger threat first, often with check.
How do you recognise it?An exchange seems forced – check whether you can slip in a check or a threat first.
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Black to move · 2014Viswanathan Anand – Fabiano Caruana
See the mating picture: back rank, smothered king, Arabian mate.
How do you recognise it?The enemy king has hardly any free squares, his own pieces block his way – which check leaves him none at all?
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White to move · 2016Magnus Carlsen – Sergey Karjakin
Force the mating picture: first the sacrifice, then mate, as Morphy did in 1858.
How do you recognise it?The king is hemmed in but not yet mated – which sacrifice tears away the last cover?