Spot every undefended piece
"Loose pieces drop off" is one of the oldest rules in chess, and one of the most ignored below 1400. This drill shows you a position and asks one question: which pieces have no defender at all? Mark them — yours and your opponent's — and see what you missed.
What it trains
- Seeing loose pieces on both sides of the board at a glance
- Noticing when your last move left something unprotected
- Finding free targets in your opponent's camp
How it works
- 01
A position appears. No move is required — just look.
- 02
Right-click every piece that has no friendly defender. If there are none, submit an empty answer.
- 03
See the correct set highlighted, plus your new drill rating.
Why it stops blunders
Most tactics at club level — forks, skewers, double attacks — only work because something is undefended. If you can see the loose pieces before you move, you stop walking into those tactics and start finding them for yourself.
FAQ
- What counts as an undefended piece?
- Any piece that no other piece of the same colour protects. It doesn't need to be attacked yet — the point is to notice it before it is.
- Does the king count?
- No. The king can't be captured, so the drill only asks about the other pieces.
- Is there a timed version?
- Yes. Once you're signed in, this drill also supports Storm and Time Trial modes for practising under the clock.
Five minutes. One habit. No signup.