Try to solve each puzzle yourself by making a move on the board — the program will tell you whether it is right. If you get stuck, open the solution or reread the article on the tactic; the link is under the puzzle.
1. Knight fork
White to move. Win the rook
Show solution
1. Nc7+ — the knight gives check and attacks the rook on a8 at the same time. The king moves away and White takes the rook.
Tactic: the fork.
2. Pawn fork
White to move. Win a knight
Show solution
1. d5 — the pawn attacks both knights at once. Only one can be saved.
3. Queen double attack
White to move. Win the bishop
Show solution
1. Qd5+ — the queen gives check along the diagonal and at the same time attacks the bishop on a5 along the rank.
Tactic: the double attack.
4. Pin
White to move. Win the knight
Show solution
1. d5 — the knight is pinned — the king stands behind it, so it cannot leave the e-file. The pawn attacks the helpless knight.
Tactic: the pin.
5. Parry the threat
Black to move. Parry the threat
Show solution
3… Qe7 — White threatens Qxf7, Scholar's mate. The queen on e7 defends f7. 3… g6 is also good, but after 4. Qf3 remember to answer 4… Nf6.
More: “Scholar's mate”.
6. Mate in one
White to move. Mate in 1
Show solution
1. Ra8# — the king is locked in by its own pawns — this is back-rank mate.
More mating puzzles in the set “Mate in 1”.