In chess composition, a motif is basic element of a move in the consideration why the piece moves and how it supports the fulfillment of a stipulation. Any move may and often does contain multiple motifs. Some composition schools put specific emphasis on motivation in chess problems, especially strategical school and Slovak school. A composition where a maximum number of a certain motif occurrences is shown is called a task, even if the term task is more general.

Classification of motifs

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,

selfmate A selfmate is a chess problem in which White, moving first, must force Black to deliver checkmate within a specified number of moves. Selfmates were once known as sui-mates. Example The problem shown is a relatively simple example. It is a sel ...

reflexmate A reflexmate is a chess problem in which White, moving first, must force Black to deliver checkmate within a specified number of moves against their will – with the added condition that if either player can give checkmate, they must. If this c ...

s and other problems with antagonistic aims of sides, while for

helpmate A helpmate is a type of chess problem in which both sides cooperate in order to achieve the goal of checkmating Black. In a helpmate in ''n'' moves, Black moves first, then White, each side moving ''n'' times, to culminate in White's ''nth'' m ...

s 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) * Line closing (prevents move of pieces along closed line, unguards square on the closed line, removes checks by closing 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

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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. {{Chess Chess problems