Pattern Recognition in Chess

One of my favorite ways to help students improve their chess level is by teaching pattern recognition. Pattern recognition is the ability to quickly recognize familiar arrangements of pieces and pawn structures on the chessboard. It allows players to make quicker decisions. By developing pattern recognition skills, one can learn, memorize, and notice patterns during a game. This reduces the time required to make a decision and take a move. There are many types of pattern recognition, and some are easier to recognize than others. Some familiar ones include back rank mate, scholars mate, and smothered mate, all checkmate patterns. Many beginners lose to a back-rank mate by leaving their King trapped behind their own pawns. Practicing pattern recognition makes it easier to see the placement of pieces and to calculate quickly to notice possible forks, skewers, and pins. Just as students remember chess openings, they can recognize patterns. Solving puzzles and repetition help build pattern recognition. In the image below, see if you can notice patterns, skewers and possible checks. Practice solving as white or black.