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FIDE CM Kingscrusher has one goal of the course. And that is to make you a much stronger tactician than ever before in your life. You should be in a much better position by training with this course to create beautiful chess combinations on the chessboard which feature a wide range of patterns and demonstrate amazing calculation ability.  In short, the goal of the course is to make you a very strong chess tactician and help you enjoy your chess to the absolute maximum.

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FIDE CM Kingscrusher has one goal of the course. And that is to make you a much stronger tactician than ever before in your life. You should be in a much better position by training with this course to create beautiful chess combinations on the chessboard which feature a wide range of patterns and demonstrate amazing calculation ability.  In short, the goal of the course is to make you a very strong chess tactician and help you enjoy your chess to the absolute maximum.

This course has a structure which is essentially is "process" and "patterns".

PROCESS: The Art of Chess Calculation

The "process" aspect is the art of chess calculation. Even if you didn't know a single tactical pattern by name, you could still play amazing tactics just with great calculation which the course gives you a solid foundation in. Yes, even if you didn't know your forks from your pins, the "Process" part of the course as in the art of calculation, would still enable you to play great chess combinations using an entire orchestra of tactical patterns without even knowing their names.

But training yourself on patterns will enhance your art of calculation and you will be able to name the key tactical patterns that are important for searching them out to practice and discuss with others as well as prompt during your calculations.

"Process" is like the software of your chess mind. "Patterns" are like the Content for that software. You need both the software and the content to be really effective as a tactician. . 

PROCESS and PATTERNS

YOUR STRENGTHS OF POSITION (PLUSSES +'s)  MATCH WITH (MINUSES -'s)

DOWNSIDES OF OPPONENTS POSITION (FOR MAXIMUM  TOP DOWN  Your goal often is to create a maximum differential between the strengths of your position, which can be realised from very strong calculation skills, and the downsides of the opponent's position, which often requires a trained intuition and eye for potential downsides to ensure you are even aware combinational solutions might exist.

PATTERNS: Tactical Patterns, Mating Patterns, Weakness of Position patterns.

The "patterns" aspect is divided into three key "pattern" areas:

Bold ones below represent really key and frequent visitors to most people's games

Tactical Patterns (alphabetically)

These tactical patterns are very useful to practice and help internalise.

  1. Absolute Pin

  2. Advanced Pawn

  3. Annihilation of Defence

  4. Alekhine’s Gun

  5. Attraction

  6. Battery

  7. Blockading defensive resources

  8. Capture

  9. Capture the Defender

  10. Checks - gaining key tempo e.g. winning material via checks

  11. Clearance

  12. Combine and Win tactics

  13. Connected passed pawns

  14. Counterplay management move

  15. Counter Threat

  16. Cross-check

  17. Cross-pin

  18. Decoy

  19. Deflection

  20. Demolition of Pawns around opponent's king

  21. Demolition of Pawn Structure

  22. Desperado

  23. Discovered Attack

  24. Domination

  25. Double Attack

  26. Double Check

  27. Draw Tactics

  28. Endgame Tactics

  29. Exchange sacrifice

  30. f2 (or f7) weakness

  31. Forcing Moves

  32. Fork

  33. Goal Hanging Tactics e.g. N on f5 (also see Thorn pawn)

  34. Greek Gift Sacrifice

  35. Indirect Defense

  36. Interference

  37. Intermediate move (synonym: Zuichenzug)

  38. King Aggression in Endgames

  39. King Chase

  40. Liberational tactics

  41. Opposition

  42. Overload the defender

  43. Weakness of last move

  44. Passed pawn creation

  45. Pawn-Fork

  46. Pawn Tactics

  47. Pawn Breakthrough

  48. Perpetual Attack

  49. Perpetual Check

  50. Pins - Absolute

  51. Pins - Relative

  52. Pins - Celebration

  53. Positional Tactic

  54. Prophylaxis move

  55. Removing King Escape Squares

  56. Rook lift

  57. Sacrifice (Positional)

  58. Sacrifice (calculated)

  59. Simplification

  60. Queen and Bishop Battery

  61. Quiet but killer move (greatly used in Alekhine combinations)

  62. Relative Pin

  63. Remove the Defender

  64. Sacrifice

  65. Simplification

  66. Situational Pin

  67. Soft spot sacrifice

  68. Strategic Crush tactic - e.g. locking in bishop, good knight

  69. Skewer

  70. Stalemate Tactics

  71. Tempo Tactics

  72. Thorn Pawns

  73. Threat making

  74. Trapped Piece

  75. Triangulation

  76. Two Rooks Battery

  77. Two Rooks on 7th Rank

  78. Under-promotion

  79. Weak Back-Rank

  80. Weakness of last move

  81. Windmill

  82. X-Ray

  83. X-Ray Attack

  84. X-Ray Defense

  85. Zugzwang

  86. Zwischenzug

Mating Patterns (alphabetically)

These mating patterns are useful to practice and help internalise.

  1. Anastasia's mate

  2. Anderssen's mate

  3. Arabian mate

  4. Back-rank mate

  5. Bishop and knight mate

  6. Blackburne's mate

  7. Blind swine mate

  8. Boden's mate

  9. Box mate (Rook mate)

  10. Combine and Win Mate

  11. Corner mate

  12. Cozio's mate

  13. Damiano's bishop mate

  14. Damiano's mate

  15. David and Goliath mate

  16. Double bishop mate

  17. Dovetail mate

  18. Epaulette mate

  19. Fool’s mate

  20. Greco's mate

  21. Hook mate

  22. Kill Box mate

  23. King and two bishops mate

  24. King and two knights mate

  25. Ladder checkmate

  26. Légal mate

  27. Lolli's mate

  28. Max Lange's mate

  29. Mayet's mate

  30. Morphy's mate

  31. Opera mate

  32. Pillsbury's mate

  33. Queen mate

  34. Réti's mate

  35. Smothered mate

  36. Support mate

  37. Suffocation mate

  38. Swallow's tail mate

"Opponent Downsides" aka "Tactical Issues" aka "Tactical Liabilities" aka "Weakness of Position" Patterns

These help you intuitively identify if a combination may exist in the position.

  1. Awkward Pieces (trappable)

  2. King Safety Issues e.g. Back rank

  3. Loose pieces (unprotected)

  4. Overworked pieces

  5. Pieces away from King

  6. Tactical Liabilities in general

  7. Weaknesses in general

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Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Teaches foundational tactics to improve chess gameplay
Offers a structured, multi-modal approach to learning chess tactics
Provides training on identifying tactical patterns and weaknesses in opponent's positions
Taught by a FIDE Chess Master, ensuring high-quality instruction
Suitable for students looking to enhance their chess tactics skills
May require additional practice and application to fully master the concepts taught

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Complete Guide to Chess Tactics with these activities:
Review basic chess principles
Revisiting basic chess principles will provide a strong foundation for your study of chess tactics.
Browse courses on Chess Strategy
Show steps
  • Go over the principles of opening, middlegame, and endgame.
  • Practice applying these principles in your games.
Review 'Learn Chess Tactics' by John Nunn
This book provides a structured approach to learning chess tactics, which will improve your ability to identify and exploit tactical opportunities.
Show steps
  • Read the book thoroughly, taking notes on the key concepts.
  • Solve the practice puzzles at the end of each chapter.
Create a chess tactics training plan
Developing a personalized training plan will help you structure your learning and track your progress.
Browse courses on Chess Tactics
Show steps
  • Set specific goals for your chess tactics training.
  • Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Create a schedule for practice and study.
  • Monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Form a chess tactics study group
Studying with other students will help you stay motivated, share knowledge, and improve your tactical skills.
Browse courses on Chess Tactics
Show steps
  • Find a few fellow students who are interested in improving their chess tactics.
  • Set up a regular meeting time and place.
  • Collaborate on solving chess puzzles, analyzing games, and discussing tactics.
Practice chess tactics on Chess.com
Solving chess puzzles will help you develop your pattern recognition skills and improve your ability to spot tactical opportunities.
Browse courses on Chess Tactics
Show steps
  • Create a free account on Chess.com.
  • Go to the 'Puzzles' section.
  • Start solving puzzles, starting with the easier ones.
Participate in chess tournaments or online blitz chess competitions
Putting your skills to the test in competitive environments will help you identify areas for improvement and accelerate your progress.
Browse courses on Chess Tactics
Show steps
  • Find local chess tournaments or online blitz chess competitions.
  • Register to participate.
  • Analyze your performance after each tournament or competition and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete The Complete Guide to Chess Tactics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Chess Instructor
As a Chess Instructor, you will guide students through the fundamentals of chess, including the art of calculation and tactics, both key topics in this course. This course helps you become a proficient tactician, and this skill will help your students improve their gameplay.
Chess Coach
Chess Coach and Chess Instructor are similar roles, and professionals in either role can expect similar benefits from this course. As a Chess Coach, you can incorporate the tactics covered in this course into your lesson plans and coaching sessions to help your students win more games and improve their overall chess acumen.
Chess Analyst
The Complete Guide to Chess Tactics course can help you lay the groundwork for a successful career as a Chess Analyst. By becoming adept at chess tactics, you develop a skillset that is fundamental to analyzing and evaluating chess games, a key function of a Chess Analyst.
Chess Player
If your career aspirations lie on the path of a professional Chess Player, this course can provide you with the tactical knowledge and skills that are crucial for success in high-level chess competitions. The course's focus on calculation, pattern recognition, and tactical combinations will enhance your ability to make strategic decisions during gameplay.
Computer Scientist
Similar to Software Engineers, Computer Scientists can benefit from the analytical and problem-solving skills developed in this course. The course's focus on calculation, pattern recognition, and logical thinking can be applied to various aspects of computer science, such as algorithm design, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.
Software Engineer
While not a direct requirement for Software Engineers, this course can provide you with valuable problem-solving and analytical skills that are highly transferable to software development. The course's emphasis on calculation, pattern recognition, and logical thinking can enhance your ability to design, implement, and troubleshoot software solutions.
Data Analyst
The Complete Guide to Chess Tactics course can provide you with a solid foundation in analytical thinking and problem-solving, skills that are highly sought after by Data Analysts. By learning to identify patterns and calculate potential outcomes, you will be better equipped to analyze data, draw insights, and make informed decisions.
Financial Analyst
The skills developed in this course, such as calculation, pattern recognition, and decision-making, can be valuable for Financial Analysts. By understanding how to identify patterns and make strategic decisions based on calculations, you can enhance your ability to analyze financial data, forecast trends, and make sound investment recommendations.
Game Designer
In the field of Game Design, understanding chess tactics is not a direct requirement for most roles. However, this course may be useful for you if you are interested in designing chess-related games or features. The course's emphasis on calculation, patterns, and weaknesses in positions provides valuable insights into the strategies and decision-making processes involved in chess, which can inform your game design choices.
Risk Manager
Risk Managers are responsible for identifying and mitigating risks in various contexts, including finance and insurance. This course can help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for success in this field. The course's emphasis on calculation, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking will provide you with a solid foundation for assessing and managing risks.
Quantitative Analyst
Quantitative Analysts use mathematical and statistical models to analyze financial data and make investment decisions. The Complete Guide to Chess Tactics course can help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for this role. The course's emphasis on calculation, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking will provide you with a solid foundation for building and using quantitative models.
Investment Banker
As an Investment Banker, you need to be able to analyze complex financial data and make quick, informed decisions. This course can help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for success in this field. The course's emphasis on calculation, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking will provide you with a solid foundation for making sound investment decisions.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts help organizations improve their performance by analyzing business processes and identifying areas for improvement. This course can help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for success in this field. The course's emphasis on calculation, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking will provide you with a solid foundation for analyzing business problems and developing effective solutions.
Management Consultant
Management Consultants help organizations improve their performance by providing advice on strategy, operations, and technology. This course can help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for success in this field. The course's emphasis on calculation, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking will provide you with a solid foundation for analyzing business problems and developing effective solutions.
Operations Research Analyst
Operations Research Analysts use mathematical and analytical techniques to solve complex problems in various industries, including business, healthcare, and manufacturing. This course can help you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for this role. The course's emphasis on calculation, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking will provide you with a solid foundation for conducting operations research studies.

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Complete Guide to Chess Tactics.
Is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals. It provides a comprehensive overview of chess tactics, and is particularly useful for readers who are looking to improve their tactical skills.
Is an excellent source of exercises to improve your tactical vision and calculation skills. The large collections of tactics will help build an intuition so you won't miss opportunities during games. Provides a comprehensive overview of chess tactics, and is written in a clear and concise style. It is particularly useful for readers who are looking to improve their tactical skills.
Is particularly useful for readers who are looking to improve their attacking skills.
Is considered a classic work on chess strategy and is still widely read today. The book provides a comprehensive study of the principles of chess. The principles in this book may be particularly useful for players who wish to become more positionally sound, especially with regard to the importance of controlling the center, developing pieces quickly and efficiently, and creating strong pawn structures.
Is an excellent way to improve your understanding of chess. A useful reference tool and provides a deeper understanding of the thought processes of a Grandmaster
Is another great introduction to the game of chess. It is written in a humorous and engaging style, and is perfect for beginners who are looking to learn the basics of the game.
Classic work on chess strategy. It is written by one of the greatest chess players of all time, and is still widely read today.
Collection of games between chess masters and amateurs. It great way to learn from the mistakes of others and improve your own game.
Collection of checkmates from actual games. It great way to learn how to checkmate your opponent and improve your chances of winning.
Comprehensive collection of chess facts and trivia. This book is densely packed with information and useful reference tool for chess trivia and facts.
Collection of the greatest chess games of all time. It great way to learn from the best players in the world and improve your own game.
Great introduction to the game of chess. It is written by one of the greatest female chess players of all time, and is perfect for beginners who are looking to learn the basics of the game.

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