Blind Tactics
See a tactical position for three seconds. The board disappears. Now find the combination. This is the cleanest test of whether your calculation actually works — without the visual crutch.
Tactics, without the safety net.
Most puzzle apps let you stare at the position until you spot the solution. Real games don't work that way — you have to calculate while your opponent's clock runs, and the position keeps shifting in your head. Blind tactics removes the staring.
- Memorise position in 3 seconds, then it's gone
- Find the tactic from memory alone
- Pure calculation, no visual crutch
Players whose puzzle ratings outperform their game ratings.
You're 1900 in puzzles but 1500 in classical. The gap is exactly this skill — calculating without the position visible. Most clubs have at least one of these players. They're a few weeks of Blind Tactics away from breakthrough.
- Tournament players whose calculation lags under pressure
- Puzzle-strong, game-weak players (this is the diagnosis)
- Anyone training for serious classical play
Inside one drill.
Each session is short, repeatable, and built around a single skill.
Position shown for 3 seconds
A tactical position, around 6–12 pieces. You can adjust the look time per difficulty.
Board disappears, dark panel appears
Question: "White to move. Find the winning combination." Or: "Black is in trouble — what's the threat?"
You enter the move sequence in notation
One move at a time. Use the text field, or tap on a hidden board (Pro only — much harder).
Review shows your line vs the solution
You can request a "glance" — see the board for half a second again, at an XP cost.
Pick where you start.
Difficulty isn't only "harder squares". It changes time pressure, hints, and the variation between sets.
Easy
5 seconds of look time. 5 pieces. One-move tactics only.
Standard
Recommended3 seconds, ~8 pieces, two-move combinations.
Tournament
3 seconds, full positions, 3+ move combinations.
The cleanest read on calculation strength.
Pawnther tracks accuracy by combination depth and by motif. If your one-movers are 90% but your two-movers are 40%, the bottleneck is named precisely.
- Per-depth accuracy: 1-move, 2-move, 3-move tactics
- Per-motif accuracy: forks, pins, skewers, discoveries
- Look-time efficiency tracked — can you do more with 2 seconds?
- Achievement: "Cold cuts" — pass a tournament set without using glance
Run one set right now.
Advanced · standard · 6 min. The fastest way to know if Pawnther is for you.