GameLens Guides

The 9 tactics that decide club chess games

Every game you lose below master level usually comes down to one of these nine patterns: a missed fork, a hung piece, a back-rank mate nobody saw coming. Learn them here — then let our free engine find them in your games automatically.

What Is a Fork in Chess? (With Examples)

A fork attacks two pieces at once. Learn how forks work, how to create them, and spot them in your own games with a free instant review.

What Is a Pin in Chess? (Explained Simply)

A pin freezes a piece in front of a more valuable one. Learn pin types, how to exploit them, and find pins in your games with a free review.

What Is a Skewer in Chess? (Reverse Pin Guide)

A skewer hits a big piece and wins the smaller one behind it. Learn this reverse-pin tactic and check your own games free with GameLens.

Back Rank Mate: What It Is and How to Stop It

Back rank mates kill kings trapped behind their own pawns. See the pattern, learn luft, and get free back-rank alerts in your game reviews.

Discovered Attack in Chess: The Hidden Double Hit

A discovered attack unleashes a hidden attacker while your moved piece grabs something else. Learn the pattern and test your games free.

Trapped Pieces in Chess: Why They Fall

A trapped piece has no safe squares and no escape. Learn how pieces get trapped, rescue patterns, and catch traps in your games free.

Hanging Pieces: The #1 Mistake in Club Chess

Hanging (undefended) pieces decide most amateur games. Learn to stop leaving pieces en prise and get free hanging-piece alerts in reviews.

Missed Captures: Free Material You Left on the Board

Missed captures are free wins thrown away. Learn why players overlook takes and train yourself to spot them with a free game review.

King Safety in Chess: Stop Walking Into Checks

King safety decides games before tactics do. Learn when to castle, escape-square hygiene, and get king safety alerts in your free review.

Find these mistakes in your own games

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