The Chess Puzzle themes
Back Rank Mates The kings own castle seals his end.
Blocking the Defence Forcing a move that puts a defending piece where it blocks further
defence.
Clearing the Way Sometimes you vacate a square, sometimes you clear a file, rank or
diagonal for your attacking piece to use
Combinations A series of moves in which two or more of the other themes are used
Counterattack Fight back from an apparently lost position.
Creating Pins and Sometimes a pin or skewer will win material directly. At other
Skewers times further moves may be necessary
Decoying When you can decoy away the guard of an attacked piece then you can
win that piece.
Discovered Attack Including discovered check. The moving piece might capture or will
threaten something else.
Double Check A special case of Discovered Attack where the only reply is to move
the King.
Double Threat One threat may be to a piece, the other may be of a mate or even
just to go to a square with positional advantage.
Exploiting Pins and These are pins or skewers that need further moves to reap the
Skewers advantage and the puzzle will start with the pin or skewer in place.
Forks All forks regardless of the forking piece (or pawn).
Forks are a special case of Double Threat.
Gaps in the Castle The insecure castle can be even more dangerous than the secure one.
Walls
King Chase Forcing the opponent's king into a trap. A special case of Netting.
Netting Sometimes you have to build the net sometimes you just take
advantage.
Overloaded Pieces Sometimes you win by harrying the overloaded piece, sometimes by
threats on both guarded pieces.
Queening Conversion of a pawn to a piece is usually decisive.
Sacrifices A special case of Decoying.
Turning the Tables Shock moves that turn an apparent loss into a win. These are
unusual counterattacks.
Zugzwang Having to move in your turn is not always a blessing.