- Pin and Deflection
80 games, 1839-2017 - Pin and Double Attack
The pin is the most common tactical theme and is powerful in its own right. However, when combined with the "double attack" it can result in unique tactical possibilities to mate, win material or a decisive positional advantage.
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38 games, 1890-2017 - Pin and the Knight Fork (combined)
Separately the pin and the knight fork are the two most common combination patterns, and each in its own right is highly effective. However, when the two are combined in a single move or line of play they can sometimes combine to create an even more powerful result.
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47 games, 1889-2019 - Pinning
The pin is one of the most frequently used tactical themes. It involves attacking a piece (with a Bishop, Rook or Queen) which screens another piece from attack. When the King is the piece being screened by the "pinned piece" it is refered to as an "absolute pin." The purpose of the pin may be to attack the pinned piece with enough force to win it for a decisive material advantage or to otherwise force a winning material or positional advantage through the threats it creates.
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215 games, 1792-2017 - Positional Sacrifices
151 games, 1475-2018 - Pursuit (King Hunt)
Pursuit is the name the Encyclopedia of Middle Games gives to positions involving an attack to either attack an exposed King or to bring a King out of a castled position to expose him to attack. In some cases numerous tactics are used to deflect the King to a position, where he is pursued and mated with minimal material left on the board. In other cases, the King hunt may result in winning decisive material or an endgame advantage. This tactic is one of the most exciting for spectators in all of Chess and requires great combinational skills.
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88 games, 1515-2012 - Queen Sacrifices
50 games, 1851-2017 - Queening Combinations
32 games, 1839-2008 - Quiet moves
1 game, 1907 - Rook and Pawn Endings
5 games, 1955-2008 - Simple Mates (single line)
4 games, 1880-2005 - Skewer
49 games, 1860-2011 - Surprise King Moves
1 game, 2001 - Swindles
1 game, 2004 - Trapped Piece
Pieces which wander too far out on their own, without adequate pawn protection or escape squares, are particularly vulnerable to being trapped by pawns (and sometimes by other pieces), as in the Noah's Ark Trap in the Ruy Lopez (capturing a Bishop behind a chain of pawns). Because it's a bit more complex, I've included the Trapped Queen theme in a separate collection.
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71 games, 1885-2019 - Trapped Queen
80 games, 1620-2016 - Traps
3 games, 1934-2006 - True Sacrifices (Attacking)
Most books of chess combinations usually feature piece sacrfices that are in reality sham sacrifices or pseudo sacrfices, which lead to a forced advantage or win for the player initiating the attack. However, in strong Master play (such as the games of Tal) one often sees true sacrifices where the player initiating the sacrifice gains a promising attacking initiative, but takes a clear risk to do so as there is no clear winning advantage in sight. The purpose of this collection is to facilitate the enjoyment and study of these true attacking sacrfices.
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39 games, 1935-2017 - Under Promotion
1 game, 1990 - Waiting Moves
8 games, 1877-2006
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Kibitzing
