Chess problems: solve the first one now

A chess task is a short position with a clear goal: find the move that immediately decides - most often by checkmate, capturing a piece, or defending from a loss. Below you will solve a real task directly on this page.

In short: the full database includes 213 tasks in 38 categories, from the first checkmate in one move to advanced motifs such as cugzwang or desperado. You solve each task on an interactive board with immediate feedback - an incorrect move does not end the attempt, and after the second mistake you get a hint. No account and no trial limit.

Solve the first task

The item below is a real "Mate in 1: Basics" challenge - the same base that the full training uses. Click on the piece and then on the target square (or drag) to checkmate in one move.

38 categories in four difficulty groups

• Mats (41 tasks): Mate in 1: basics, Mate patterns I, Mate patterns II, Mate in 2 moves, Mate with a light figure.
• Matte Themes (40 Tasks): 18 named patterns, including: mate on the last line, opera mate, Anastasia's mate, Arabic mate, Boden's mate, shoulder mate, dovetail and mate with two bishops.
• Basic themes (74 tasks): Bind, Fork, Pin, Face Attack, Double Check, Overload, Switch on (zwischenzug), X-ray.
• Advanced themes (58 tasks): Cugzwang, Cover (Interference), Distraction, Attraction, Underpromotion, Desperado, Countershare.

Difficulty increases roughly in the order from the list: one-move checkmates are a natural start for beginners, and cugzwang or counter-check only make sense once you recognize the basic motifs. Each category has its own progress counter and its own set of tasks - you solve them in any order, as many times as you want, in full tactical training.

Why problem solving helps in real games

During the game, no one will tell you that now is the opportunity to fork or tie up. By solving several tasks from one theme in turn, you learn to recognize its pattern - and then you notice it yourself, without prompting, in your own parts. That's why the tasks in this database are grouped thematically, not randomly mixed: repetition is intentional, not accidental.

How to solve the task

1. You are given a position and a short command, e.g. "checkmate in one move".
2. You make a move on the board - your opponent's planned response (if the task requires it) plays automatically.
3. A wrong move does not end the task: you keep trying, and after the second mistake you get a hint.
4. The solved problem shows a brief explanation of why this move works.

Chess puzzles or tactical tasks? It's the same

"Chess puzzles" and "tactical problems" are effectively the same thing: a position with one best solution that you have to find. The difference is only in the name - here we treat all 213 items identically, regardless of what you call them. Don't know the names of the themes in the category list yet? We explain them on the website chess tactics.

Be honest about the limitations

• The tasks have fixed solutions - they teach pattern recognition, but they cannot replace playing with a live opponent.
• Zestaw liczy 213 pozycji; to trening rozpoznawania motywów, a nie niekończąca się baza puzzli.
• Postęp w pełnym treningu zapisuje się lokalnie w Twojej przeglądarce; na innym urządzeniu zaczynasz od zera.

Don't know all the themes on the list yet? Start with a course learning chess -Tactics 1 and 2 chapters introduce each theme from scratch. Want to check if you know the basic rules? Take a look at rules of chess. It is best to check the found motifs in your own games batch analysis.

The training works offline after your first online visit on this device. Application installation is not required.