Guides

Tactics & Endgames

Win material and finish games with the patterns and technique behind most beginner wins.

How to review your own games · 6 min read Under 1000

Let the computer show you exactly where the game went wrong.

How to review your own games · 7 min read Under 1200

Find your real mistakes and actually learn something from them.

The blunder-check habit · 6 min read Beginner

Build the simple checking habit that saves game after game.

The blunder-check habit · 5 min read Essential

A three-question routine that prevents painful one-move blunders.

King and pawn endgames · 5 min read Under 1000

Can your king catch that passed pawn? Just count the square.

King and pawn endgames · 8 min read Under 1200

Opposition and the key ideas that decide these common endings.

King + Rook vs King checkmate · 6 min read Under 1000

Walk the enemy king to the edge and mate, step by step.

King + Queen vs King checkmate · 5 min read Beginner

The box method: finish the game cleanly without stalemating.

Back-rank and smothered mates · 5 min read Under 1000

A beautiful forced checkmate pattern that's worth memorizing.

Forks · 6 min read Beginner

Recognize the pattern that wins pieces for beginners again and again.