Chess Tactics for Kids: Fork, Pin and Skewer Explained Simply
Most games between beginners are decided by tactics: short tricks that win material. Master three of them, the fork, the pin and the skewer, and your child will win more pieces and lose fewer.
What you will learn: what each tactic is, a classic example, how to spot it, and how to practise.
The fork: one piece, two targets
A fork is when one piece attacks two (or more) enemy pieces at once. The opponent can only save one. Knights are the great forkers because they attack in an L-shape that pieces do not expect, and they can fork a king and queen at once. Pawns fork too: a pawn move that attacks two pieces wins one of them.
Classic example: in the Italian Game, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5?, White plays 6.Nxf7, forking the queen on d8 and the rook on h8.
How to spot it: look for a square where your knight would attack two valuable pieces and is itself safe.
The pin: a piece that cannot move
A pin is when an attacked piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it. Bishops, rooks and queens pin along lines.
- Absolute pin: the piece behind is the king, so moving the pinned piece is illegal.
- Relative pin: the piece behind is something valuable, such as the queen. Moving is legal but costly.
Classic example: a bishop on g5 pins a knight on f6 to the queen on d8. The knight cannot safely move, so you can attack it again.
How to spot it: look for enemy pieces lined up with the king or queen behind them.
The skewer: the pin in reverse
A skewer attacks a valuable piece first. When it moves away, you capture the less valuable piece behind it. A rook checking a king along a file, then taking the queen when the king steps aside, is the textbook case.
How to spot it: look for a king or queen in line with another piece on the same rank, file or diagonal.
| Tactic | Key idea | Best pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | One piece attacks two targets | Knight, pawn, queen |
| Pin | Target cannot move without loss | Bishop, rook, queen |
| Skewer | Big piece moves, small piece falls | Bishop, rook, queen |
A habit that wins games: checks, captures, threats
Before every move, ask three questions. Do I have any checks? Any captures? Any threats? Then ask the same about your opponent. This one routine finds most tactics, and stops most blunders.
How to practise
- Solve 10 to 15 short puzzles a day, focused on one tactic at a time.
- After each game, find one tactic that was missed by either side.
- Play simple tactical games, like those in our fun chess games to play at home.
Learn tactics with a coach
Our live classes teach tactics step by step with FIDE-rated coaches and small groups. Try a free demo.
New to the game? Start with the beginner's roadmap and avoid the common beginner mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important chess tactic for beginners?
The fork is usually the first and most useful, especially with the knight. Pins and skewers come next.
How many puzzles should a child solve each day?
About 10 to 15 focused puzzles is plenty. Consistency matters more than volume.
What is the difference between a pin and a skewer?
In a pin, the less valuable piece is in front and cannot move. In a skewer, the more valuable piece is in front and must move, losing the piece behind it.
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