100 Puzzles: Forks, Pins, Discoveries, and Skewers!

Introduction

These exercises are intended to reinforce forks (20 problems), pins (20 problems), and discoveries (20 problems), so that they become second-nature.  The difficulty level for each problem is easy, and each requires only one or two moves at most.  I also introduce the skewer (20 problems) in a similar fashion. 

The last 20 problems are miscellaneous, and could be any one of these four tactics!  While the first 10 in Misc. are easy like the rest, the last 10 involve more than one tactic each.  The very last problem is intended to be a challenge: it involves a fork, pin, and discovery (in that order).

Find the Fork

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Find the Pin; be sure to read directions when they exist.

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(22) Pin, then attack the pinned piece with a pawn to win it:

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(25) This one is as simple as it looks, but I want you to play a few moves here to get used to following through...

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(28) This requires one set-up move first. Hint: it's a check.

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(30) This is a simple pin-and-win, but for extra practice (definitely optional), you can carry it further: promote your passed pawn and practice the knight's distance method with your queen (on move 8, play Qa1-c1 and then close-in one square at a time for a while; as soon as the White king has only one file, bring the Black king to face the White king, separated only by one file.  After White's response, Ka6-a7, you have only one mate in 1.  There are other acceptable moves throughout, but they will not be regarded as correct, unfortunately).

For the next 8: find an existing pin and exploit it!

(31) Attack the pinned piece with a pawn and win it:

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Why not take the knight with the bishop? Because Black could then move his king to e6 and fork your pieces!

(34) Exploit a pin to win material with another pin!

(35) Exploit two pins to deliver checkmate in 1!

(36) Exploit two pins to deliver mate. (Bonus: why is taking the Black queen with the White bishop bad?) Vocab: a move that checks in response to a check is known as a cross check.

(37) Pins are often exploited to make forks work:

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(39) Sometimes you can pin a piece to a checkmating square; remember the back-rank mate, it is your friend.

(40) Another example of pinning a piece to a checkmating square...

Discoveries: find the best discovery that wins material.

(41) There are two discoveries here that clearly win; find the best one.

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(50) Discover mate!

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(55) Two discoveries in a row here!

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Skewers

Introduction

You are already becoming familiar with what a pin is: when the movement of a piece of lesser value  is restricted, because it would expose a piece of greater value.  The following is one example of a pin:

The White bishop on b2 pins the Black rook on e5 to the Black king on h8. 

In contrast, a skewer is when a piece of higher (or equal) value is threatened; if it moves out of the way, it leaves a piece of lesser (or equal) value exposed to capture.  The following is one example of a skewer:

The White bishop on b2 skewers the Black king on e5 and the Black rook on h8.  Once the Black king escapes check, the rook is free for the taking.  Think of that diagonal as a giant shish kabob:

Image Credit: https://www.saveur.com/shish-kebabs-recipe

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(62) Remember that it can be pieces of equal value too!

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(67) Needs a set up move first...

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(70) Two skewers to choose from! But only one is practical.

(92) Exploit the pin; Black will defend poorly.  Follow through will mate in 2.

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(100) CHALLENGE PROBLEM: Involves a fork, exploiting a pin, and a discovery (in that order).  Once that's done, on White's move #4, don't capture the Black queen immediately, but play an important in-between check, saving one of your pieces.  Then capture the Black queen for good measure.