Look before you calculate
Locate the kings and look for undefended pieces. Check forcing moves for both sides: checks, captures and threats. A piece attacked twice and defended once may be a clue, but also check whether any defenders are pinned.
Observe. Calculate. Learn.
Chess puzzles
to sharpen your tactics.
Play Rush64 Chess for free. Solve puzzles against the clock or train at your own pace with positions from real games.
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Puzzle 1 of 3 · Mate in two
Relaxed mode · No timer
You move, your opponent replies, and you deliver checkmate with your second move. Take as many attempts as you need.
I need a hint
Your rook can reach the eighth rank with check. Calculate the opponent’s blocking move too.
Show solution and explanation
1. Rd8+ Re8 2. Rxe8#
Rd8+ forces Black’s rook to block with ...Re8: the king cannot escape because its pawns occupy f7, g7 and h7. Rxe8# removes the final defender.
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A method you can use today
Solving is the start.
Understanding helps you improve.
Finding the right chess move does not always mean you understood the position. Training is more useful when you can explain the threat, the reply you expected and why the alternatives did not work. Try this approach in your next puzzle.
Find the strongest reply
Choose a candidate move and try to refute it from the other side of the board. Do not calculate only the reply you hope to see. If you sacrifice material, check what happens if your opponent declines it or plays an intermediate check.
Review the idea, not just the result
After each puzzle, identify the clue you noticed or missed. Replay the line in your head and explain its tactical theme in one sentence. If you keep missing pins, focus your next session on that pattern before increasing the pace.
An idea for your next game
A piece that seems to defend…
may be unable to move.
Imagine a knight between its king and an enemy rook on the same file. If moving the knight exposes its king to check, that move is illegal: the knight is absolutely pinned.
When counting defenders of a square, looking at which pieces attack it is not enough. Ask which pieces can legally move. This can change the outcome of captures that initially seem to lose material.
If the queen were behind the knight instead of the king, moving it could be legal but costly. Understanding the difference between an absolute pin and a relative pin is essential when calculating.
Study this and other patterns →The Rush64 library
Learn an idea.
Try it on the board.
Explore explanations, annotated positions and practical training advice. Read every guide directly, without completing the game introduction or creating an account.
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Chess puzzles for beginners
Solve six positions with hints and explained solutions. Free, with no sign-up.
Read guide ↗Practise on the boardMate in two: three interactive puzzles
Move the pieces and find checkmate against your opponent’s best defence.
Read guide ↗01 · CalculationCalculate with a clear method
Learn to choose candidate moves and check the strongest reply before deciding.
Read guide ↗02 · TacticsSpot the opportunities
Pins, forks and deflections: identify what makes each combination work.
Read guide ↗03 · ReviewTurn a mistake into a lesson
Distinguish a threat you missed from a variation you miscalculated.
Read guide ↗04 · StrategyUnderstand the position
Check king safety, piece activity and weaknesses before choosing a plan.
Read guide ↗05 · VisualisationSee the move before you play it
Visualise lines, defenders and resulting positions without moving the pieces.
Read guide ↗06 · EndgamesMake your king count
Study opposition and key squares to understand when a pawn can promote.
Read guide ↗07 · Time managementMake better decisions under pressure
Save your attention for critical decisions instead of spending all your time on one line.
Read guide ↗08 · HabitsBuild a useful routine
Combine practice, review and study in sessions you can repeat throughout the week.
Read guide ↗From study to practice
Take a break.
Find a good move.
Start a round, try the daily challenge or practise a tactical pattern. Take a moment to understand the solution before moving on to the next position.
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