How The Horsey Moves
Learn how each chess piece moves through interactive puzzles
Continue: Rook Level 1: The Foal
Rook
Moves in straight lines: up, down, left, right.
Bishop
Moves diagonally across the board.
Queen
Moves like a rook and bishop combined.
King
Moves one square in any direction.
Knight
Moves in an L-shape and can jump over pieces.
Pawn
Moves forward, captures diagonally.
Place the Pieces
Learn where each piece goes on the board.
How to Win
Learn check, checkmate, and stalemate.
Play the Sloth
Use everything you've learned. The Sloth plays random moves.
Level 2: The Colt
Danger Zones
Dodge enemy pieces — reach the star without getting eaten!
Name the Square
Learn the names of all 64 squares.
Mate in 1
Find the single move that delivers checkmate.
Queen vs King
Deliver checkmate with King + Queen.
Back Rank
Trap the king behind its own pawns.
Rook Ladder
Two rooks push the king to the edge, then deliver mate.
Lolli's Mate
Queen slips in behind the pawns for mate.
Queen Takes f7
The queen strikes the weak f7 square.
QB Battery
Queen and bishop team up on a diagonal.
Play the Chick
It grabs every piece it can — but never checks if it's safe.
Level 3: The Trotter
Queen & King
Use the queen with king support.
Smothered Mate
The knight strikes when the king can't move.
Mate in 2
Set up the checkmate in two precise moves.
Fool's Mate
The shortest possible checkmate — just two moves!
Legal's Mate
The original queen sacrifice trap — checkmate with minor pieces.
Budapest Smothered
A knight delivers mate surrounded by the opponent's own pieces.
Greco's Smothered
Greco sacrifices the queen so the knight delivers smothered mate.
Scholar's Mate
Learn and defend against the fastest checkmate.
The Opera Game
Morphy's masterpiece — rapid development and open lines.
Play the Frog
It hops around — it finds good moves, but not the best one.
Level 4: The Cantering
Pins
Trap a piece on a line — it can't move!
Forks
Attack two pieces at once with the knight.
Skewers
Attack through one piece to grab another.
Removing Defender
Capture the piece that guards a target.
Discovered Attacks
Move one piece to unleash another.
Greco's Greek Gift
The original Bxh7+ sacrifice — Greco storms the kingside.
Greco's Mate
The knight dances with discovered checks, then Qh8# delivers the blow.
Rook vs King
Deliver checkmate with King + Rook.
Pawn Endings
Key squares, opposition, and essential pawn patterns.
Play the Rabbit
Quick and careful — it rarely leaves a piece hanging.
Level 5: The Galloper
Pawn Ending Practice
20 pawn ending puzzles from Lichess — apply what you learned!
Color of Square
Dark or light? Identify the color from the name.
Same Rank/File
Do these two squares share a rank or file?
Same Diagonal
Are these two squares on the same diagonal?
Move Counting
How many squares does this piece control?
Piece Reachability
Can this piece reach that square? Yes or no!
What Changed?
Memorize a position, then spot what moved.
Where Did It Land?
Follow opening moves mentally, then find a piece.
Play the Panda
Calm and steady — it takes what you leave and spots mate in one.
Level 6: The Destrier
Flash Position
Memorize a position, then place pieces from memory.
Piece Count
Flash a position — how many pieces of each type?
Knight Routes
Find a knight path between two squares — no board!
Bishop Routes
Find a bishop path — or spot when it's impossible!
Rook Maze
Navigate a rook around obstacles — no board!
Knight Gauntlet
Navigate the knight without stepping on attacked squares!
The Immortal Game
Anderssen sacrifices everything — both rooks, a bishop, and his queen.
Rubinstein's Immortal
A devastating queen sacrifice where Black's pieces swarm the king.
Gold Coins Game
Marshall's stunning final move supposedly made spectators throw gold coins.
Play the Monkey
Cheeky and clever — it looks two moves ahead.
Level 7: The Stallion
Game of the Century
13-year-old Fischer sacrifices his queen and delivers a brilliant attack.
Capablanca vs Bernstein
Precise maneuvering leads to a winning combination.
Two Bishops vs King
Deliver checkmate with King + 2 Bishops.
Bishop + Knight
Deliver checkmate with King + Bishop + Knight.
Knight Squares
Name every square a knight can reach from a given square.
Blind Tactics
See a position, then find checkmate blindfolded!
Blindfold Puzzles
Pieces are invisible — solve from a text description!
Who's Guarding?
Track piece interactions as they move — blindfolded!
Play the Bear
Strong and patient — it never misses a gift.
Level 8: The Charger
Lucena Position
Build a bridge to promote your rook pawn.
KPK: Defend
Hold the draw with opposition against perfect play.
BF Mate: Q vs K
Deliver checkmate blindfolded with King + Queen.
BF Mate: RR vs K
Deliver checkmate blindfolded with King + 2 Rooks.
BF Mate: R vs K
Deliver checkmate blindfolded with King + Rook.
BF Mate: BB vs K
Deliver checkmate blindfolded with King + 2 Bishops.
BF Mate: BN vs K
Deliver checkmate blindfolded with King + Bishop + Knight.
Play the Owl
The toughest — it knows the openings and plans ahead.