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Chess Practice: Checkmates, Tactics & Endgames

Learn the fundamentals by playing them out against the engine. Each position gives you a goal — deliver mate, win the tactic, hold the draw — and you keep going until you get it right. 315 positions across checkmates, tactics and endgames.

Checkmates

0/6
Piece Checkmates I
Basic checkmates
0/18
Checkmate Patterns I
Recognize the patterns
0/23
Checkmate Patterns II
Recognize the patterns
0/18
Checkmate Patterns III
Recognize the patterns
0/15
Checkmate Patterns IV
Recognize the patterns
0/7
Piece Checkmates II
Challenging checkmates
0/11
Knight & Bishop Mate
Interactive lesson

Fundamental Tactics

0/8
The Pin
Pin it to win it
0/8
The Skewer
Yum - skewers!
0/16
The Fork
Use the fork, Luke
0/10
Discovered Attacks
Including discovered checks
0/6
Double Check
A very powerful tactic
0/10
Overloaded Pieces
They have too much work
0/5
Zwischenzug
In-between moves
0/7
X-Ray
Attacking through an enemy piece

Advanced Tactics

0/4
Zugzwang
Being forced to move
0/7
Interference
Interpose a piece to great effect
0/6
Greek Gift
Study the greek gift sacrifice
0/10
Deflection
Distracting a defender
0/10
Attraction
Lure a piece to a bad square
0/10
Underpromotion
Promote - but not to a queen!
0/5
Desperado
A piece is lost, but it can still help
0/5
Counter Check
Respond to a check with a check
0/5
Undermining
Remove the defending piece
0/5
Clearance
Get out of the way!

Pawn Endgames

0/11
Key Squares
Reach a key square
0/8
Opposition
Take the opposition
0/17
7th-Rank Rook Pawn
Versus a Queen

Rook Endgames

0/9
7th-Rank Rook Pawn
And Passive Rook vs Rook
0/10
Basic Rook Endgames
Lucena and Philidor
0/15
Intermediate Rook Endings
Broaden your knowledge
0/10
Practical Rook Endings
Rook endings with several pawns

Frequently asked questions

What is Chess Practice?+

It is a set of guided positions you play out against the engine. Each one gives you a goal - deliver checkmate, win the tactic, or hold the draw - and you keep replaying until you achieve it, so the technique becomes automatic.

What can I practise?+

Basic checkmates (king and queen, king and rook, two rooks, back-rank), common tactical motifs, and essential endgames such as king and pawn and the key rook endings - the patterns that decide the most games.

How is this different from solving puzzles?+

A puzzle asks for one right move. Practice makes you play the whole position out against the engine until you reach the goal, so you learn to convert - to actually deliver the mate or hold the ending, not just spot the first move.

Is Chess Practice free? Do I need an account?+

Yes, it is free and needs no account. It runs in your browser against a built-in Stockfish engine, and your progress is saved on your device.

What should I practise first?+

Start with the basic checkmates, then king and pawn endings and the Lucena and Philidor rook positions. These convert the most points for the least study. The Chess training tools page links guides for each.

Positions from Lichess Practice (lichess.org/practice), CC.