Motif (chess composition)

Motifs may be classified according to various viewpoints. In the usual twomovers they might be: • Positive - those working towards the accomplishment of the stipulation • Attacking - positive motifs of white moves • Weakening - negative motifs of white moves • Negative - those tending to hinder the accomplishment of the stipulation • Defensive - negative motifs of black moves • Harmful - positive motifs of black moves Similar classification is valid for all directmates, selfmates, reflexmates and other problems with antagonistic aims of sides, while for helpmates and other help-problems only positive/negative level is applicable. ==Contents of motifs==

The basic orthodox motifs are: • Preventing the move of other unit (includes taking of a flight of the king) • Allowing the move of other unit (includes creating of a flight of the king) • Guarding of some square or line • Unguarding of some square or line • Attacking of king (checking) In fairy chess some other motifs are possible. ==Forms of motifs==

Any of the above-listed motifs may be presented in various forms. In orthodox chess problems these forms include: • Capture (prevents move of captured unit, allows move of king to square previously guarded by captured piece) • Line opening (allows move of pieces along opened line, guards square on the opened line, checks by opening the line) • Blocking (prevents move of the king or any other piece to the blocked square) • Unblocking (allows move of the king or any other piece to the unblocked square) • Pinning (prevents move of pinned piece, unguards square previously guarded by pinned piece) • Unpinning (allows move by the unpinned piece, guards square by unpinned piece) • Exchange sacrifice In the fairy chess, other forms of motifs are possible, e.g., allowing the move by a grasshopper by providing the hurdle or allowing the capture by a piece by patrolling in Patrol chess. While studies also may contain problem motifs, they often contain usual tactical motifs. ==References==