title: Motif (chess composition)
text: # Motif (chess composition)
  
  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, 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)
  * 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 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.
  
  