Lessons
Capturing Pieces

Capturing Pieces

CHESScom
Chess.com Team
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Learn these tactics to capture more of your opponent's pieces!

Have you ever wondered if you should trade your rook for a knight? Do you want to be able to set up forks and other cool tactics? Then this is the course for you! By learning these tactical ideas you will start winning more material, and you will also start recognizing when your opponent is threatening these tricks and avoid them! Increase your tactical abilities and watch your rating skyrocket!

Here is what you will learn:

  • Piece values and why they matter
  • How to identify hanging pieces
  • how to avoid bad trades
  • Forks, pins, skewers, and other tactics!

Value of the Pieces

Each piece has a numerical value that can help you evaluate whether exchanging it makes sense. Pawns are 1 point, knights are 3 points, bishops are 3 points, rooks are 5 points, queens are 9 points, kings are the whole game!
3 min
5 Challenges

Tactics and Hanging Pieces

Tactics are the types of moves you can use to gain an immediate advantage. Watch out for which pieces are unprotected each turn. If you can capture one, it's usually a good idea!
3 min
5 Challenges

Counting Captures

It's usually a good idea to capture something if you have more attacking pieces than the opponent has defending pieces. That way you will get to make the first and last capture.
7 min
5 Challenges

Forks

One way to win material is to attack more than one piece at a time with one of your own. This technique is known as a fork.
3 min
5 Challenges

Pins

A pin occurs when a piece is under attack and cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece to capture. An absolute pin occurs when a piece is pinned against a king.
2 min
5 Challenges

Piling Up

Once you have pinned a piece, it can't or shouldn't move. Often the best way to take advantage is to add more attacking pieces until the pinned piece can be captured in the best way.
1 min
5 Challenges

Skewers

A skewer occurs when one piece attacks an opposing piece, that has a less valuable piece behind it, that can be captured once it moves.
2 min
5 Challenges

Avoiding Bad Trades

Don't make the mistake of giving up your good pieces for less valuable ones. It's important that you evaluate all possible captures each turn.
5 min
5 Challenges

Your Opponent's Move

It’s important to pay attention to what your opponent is trying to do each turn. Watch the video to learn more about what to watch for.
8 min
5 Challenges

Capturing Pieces

Fundamentals
9 Lessons
34 Minutes
45 Challenges
Released 12/21/2018

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