Tactics training for chess players
Spot the tactic before you even calculate it
Try this puzzle. On Chess Hammer it doesn’t disappear once solved: you meet it twice more, days apart, until the solution jumps out at you. That’s the Woodpecker Method, organized for you.
Sign in with email or Google · puzzles from the public Lichess database
Black to move: find the move that wins material.
Real puzzle from the Lichess database · rating 1500
- puzzles from real games
- 210,000
- on the same set
- 3 rounds
- no ads
- €0
- public GPLv3 code
- Open source
How it works
- 1
Create your set
Choose how many puzzles (usually 200) and which themes: Chess Hammer picks them from the Lichess database for your level.
- 2
Repeat it three times
First round at your own pace, then faster and faster: 10, 20 and 40 puzzles a day, with a few rest days between rounds.
- 3
Track your progress
Times, mistakes and ELO rating round after round: see which tactical patterns have become automatic and which haven’t yet.
Everything you need to train, nothing more
Rounds of repetition
The same set, three times: memory of tactical patterns is built by repeating, not by always solving new puzzles.
Stockfish analysis
After each puzzle you can analyze the position with the engine, right in your browser.
Stats and rating
ELO, times and success rate per round and per theme, with the history of every session.
Free practice
Once the daily quota is done, review the puzzles you missed without touching the official session.
Why does repeating the same puzzles work?
The guide to the Woodpecker Method: where it comes from, how the three rounds are organized and how it differs from random puzzles.
Read the guideFrequently asked questions
What is the Woodpecker Method?
A tactical training method devised by grandmasters Axel Smith and Hans Tikkanen: you solve the same set of puzzles several times, faster each time, until tactical patterns become automatic. Chess Hammer applies it but is not affiliated with the authors.
Is Chess Hammer free?
Yes: sign-up, training, Stockfish analysis and stats are free and ad-free. The code is open source (GPLv3).
Where do the puzzles come from?
From the public Lichess database: over 200,000 positions from real games, picked for your level and the themes you prefer. Chess Hammer is not affiliated with Lichess.
How much time does it take each day?
You set the pace. Usually 10 puzzles a day in the first round, 20 in the second and 40 in the third, with a few rest days in between: about two months for a 200-puzzle set.
Do I need to install anything?
No: Chess Hammer runs in the browser, on desktop and mobile. All you need is an account with email or Google.