Attraction (decoy) puzzles
Lure an enemy piece, often the king, onto a square where it can be forked, pinned or mated.
The lure is usually a sacrifice the opponent must take or lose anyway. After it, the piece stands exactly where your follow-up hits it.
8 real puzzles from games on Lichess, easiest first, rated 702 to 2689. The course has 1,204 attraction puzzles in all.
Puzzle 1 · rated 702
White just played Qf4. Black to move.
Show the answer
37... Rxf1+ 38. Kxf1 Qd1#
Puzzle 2 · rated 1345
White just played Rxe4. Black to move.
Show the answer
46... Ra1+ 47. Kxa1 h1=Q+ 48. Ka2 Qxe4
Puzzle 3 · rated 1609
Black just played Ne7. White to move.
Show the answer
32. Rxe6 Qxe6 33. Nc7+ Kf7 34. Nxe6
Puzzle 4 · rated 1840
Black just played Kg5. White to move.
Show the answer
38. h4+ Kxh4 39. Qf4#
Puzzle 5 · rated 2036
Black just played Qxc2. White to move.
Show the answer
24. Qxh7+ Kxh7 25. Rh3+ Bh4 26. Rxh4+ Kg8 27. Rh8#
Puzzle 6 · rated 2213
White just played Kc3. Black to move.
Show the answer
41... cxb4+ 42. Kxb4 bxa5+
Puzzle 7 · rated 2389
Black just played Kg6. White to move.
Show the answer
54. Qxf7+ Kxf7 55. Qe8+ Kf6 56. Qe6#
Puzzle 8 · rated 2689
White just played Ke2. Black to move.
Show the answer
31... Bf3+ 32. Ke1 Rg1+ 33. Nf1 Rxf1+ 34. Kxf1 Qh3+ 35. Ke1 Qh1+
Free, no sign-up. Puzzles come in order of difficulty and the ladder adjusts to how you solve.
Puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Every line was replayed move by move by the course's rules engine. Part of Chess Path, a free chess course. Free coach for your Chess.com and Lichess games.