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About Attraction

Attraction — also called a decoy — draws an enemy piece, usually the king, onto a square where it walks into a tactic. A sacrifice offers material the opponent almost has to take, and once the king or piece is dragged to the fatal square, a fork, skewer, or checkmate follows. Queen and rook sacrifices that pull the king into the open are the signature of attraction combinations and produce some of the most beautiful moves in chess. These {count} attraction puzzles train you to see the sacrifice that sets up the winning blow.

Frequently asked questions

What is attraction in chess?

Attraction is a tactic that lures an enemy piece, often the king, onto a square where it becomes vulnerable to a follow-up fork, skewer or mate.

Is attraction the same as a decoy?

Yes, the terms are used interchangeably. Both describe forcing an enemy piece onto a square that helps your tactic.

Why sacrifice material to attract a piece?

The material you give up is recovered with interest when the attracted piece is caught in the resulting tactic — often with checkmate.

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