Tactics: forks, pins, x-rays

90% of games are decided by tactics — short strikes. FORK: knight/pawn/queen hits two targets — save one, lose the other. PIN: a piece on the line before a valuable one — can’t move. X-RAY: attack through a piece — take the front, the next falls right after. DOUBLE CHECK: two pieces attack the king — only escape helps. Train patterns 15 min/day.

• ●Before each move ask: what does the opponent threaten? — masters’ habit
• ●Knight = fork king: its “L” hides strikes behind corners
• ●A pinned piece doesn’t defend: it’s “frozen” on the line