Reference

Tactics & Conversion Glossary

Print this. Check it before analysing a game you lost or drew from a winning position.

Tactical motifs

Motif	Idea
Fork	One piece attacks two targets at once
Pin	Piece can't move without exposing a bigger piece behind it
Skewer	Valuable piece in front is forced to move, losing the piece behind
Discovered attack	Moving one piece unmasks another piece's attack
Back-rank mate	Castled king with no escape square gets mated along the back rank

Before every move, ask

Does this move hang anything? Does my opponent's last move threaten anything?

Converting a winning position

1. Trade pieces, not pawns, when ahead in material
2. Don't relax right after winning material
3. Improve your worst-placed piece when no tactic is available
4. Push passed pawns

Endgame rules

Rule	Meaning
Opposition	Forcing the enemy king to give way decides most king+pawn endings
Tarrasch rule	Put your rook behind a passed pawn — yours to support it, theirs to stop it

Sources: ChessChatter — Convert Winning Chess Positions, Chess.com — Chess Endgames: 10 Principles