Master chess tactics using the Woodpecker Method

Train tactics in Woodpecker cycles that sharpen pattern recognition and lead to real rating gains. Join thousands of players using Disco Chess to automate repetition, accuracy checks, and progress tracking, so you can focus on solving puzzles.

Faster tactical improvement inspired by the famous Woodpecker Method
Proven repetition training that builds long-term pattern recognition
Automatic tracking with instant progress reviews, zero setup required
Start FREE: solve your first puzzle in under 60 seconds
Disco Chess mobile app showing interactive chess puzzle solving interface with progress tracking and statistics

Training Cycles

Solve puzzle sets in repeated cycles. Each round, you'll get faster and more accurate as patterns become automatic.

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Performance Analytics

Track accuracy, solve time, and efficiency. See exactly how your pattern recognition improves cycle over cycle.

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Mistake Review

Puzzles you get wrong enter an Anki-style review queue. Spaced repetition ensures weaknesses become strengths.

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Theme-Based Training

170+ curated sets by tactical theme. Target forks, pins, skewers, or any motif you want to master.

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Built on the Woodpecker Method

...the way the book intended, then extended

The Woodpecker Method is the training technique that helped Hans Tikkanen achieve three GM norms in seven weeks. The core idea: solve the same puzzle set multiple times in cycles until patterns become automatic.

Disco Chess implements every requirement from the original book (fixed puzzle sets, cycle tracking, speed analytics), then extends it with Anki-style mistake review, 18 tactical themes, and performance analytics that identify your weak spots automatically.

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Core Woodpecker features

Fixed puzzle sets (100 & 1000 puzzles)
Solve the same set in 5-7+ cycles
Track speed and accuracy across cycles
Complete full sets, no skipping

Disco Chess innovations

Mistake Review with Anki-style spaced repetition
18 tactical themes for targeted training
Performance analytics to find weak motifs
Tactics from your games on Lichess or Chess.com

Solve puzzles, we track everything

Pick a puzzle set, start solving, and Disco Chess handles the rest. Automatic cycle tracking, progress analytics, and instant feedback. No spreadsheets, no manual timers, no complicated setup. You focus on tactics.

Automatic tracking

Watch your pattern recognition grow

Each cycle, you'll solve the same puzzles faster and more accurately. Our efficiency metric shows exactly how much you've improved compared to your first attempt. Real, measurable progress you can see.

Progress tracking

Build the training habit

Track your consecutive training days with hot streaks. Set daily goals (5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes) and watch your consistency grow. Small daily sessions compound into massive improvement over time.

Hot streak

Frequently asked questions

Yes! Disco Chess is free to start. You get access to all tactical themes, starter puzzle sets (100 puzzles each), unlimited cycles, performance analytics, and Mistake Review. Premium unlocks larger sets (1000 puzzles) and unlimited hearts.

Pick a puzzle set matched to your level, then solve all the puzzles. That's one cycle. Repeat the same set multiple times. Each cycle, you'll solve faster and more accurately as patterns become automatic. Learn more about Training Cycles.

Wrong puzzles are automatically added to your Mistake Review queue. You'll see them again at spaced intervals (1, 3, 7, 14, 30 days) until you master them. This Anki-style approach ensures your weaknesses get the most practice.

Three core metrics: Accuracy (are patterns sticking?), Solve Time (how automatic is your recognition?), and Efficiency (overall improvement vs. your first cycle). See details in Performance Analytics.

All 18 themes are free: Fork, Pin, Skewer, Discovered Attack, Double Check, Back Rank Mate, Smothered Mate, Attraction, Deflection, Capturing Defender, Interference, Clearance, Sacrifice, Trapped Piece, Hanging Piece, Intermezzo, Promotion, and X-Ray Attack. Browse Theme-Based Training.

We offer starter sets (100 puzzles) and complete sets (1000 puzzles). Start with 100 to try a theme or difficulty level. Move to complete sets when you're ready for deeper training. The goal is to repeat the same set multiple times, not solve thousands of different puzzles once.

Most users see noticeable improvements within 2-4 weeks of consistent practice. By cycles 5-7, patterns that took you 30 seconds start feeling instant. Daily practice (even 15-20 minutes) beats occasional longer sessions.

Our puzzle sets are curated from the Lichess open database, containing millions of puzzles from real games. We organize them by tactical theme and difficulty for optimal training. Thanks to Lichess for making this possible!

The Woodpecker Method is a training technique where you solve the same puzzle set multiple times in cycles. Instead of variety, you focus on repetition until patterns become automatic. It helped Hans Tikkanen achieve three GM norms in seven weeks.

Yes. Disco Chess implements every core requirement of the Woodpecker Method as described by GM Axel Smith: fixed puzzle sets, cycle-based repetition, and speed tracking. We then extended it with Anki-style Mistake Review, a feature the original book never had, making Disco Chess the most complete digital implementation available.

The original Woodpecker Method focuses on cycle-based repetition. Disco Chess adds: (1) Anki-style spaced repetition for mistakes, (2) 18 tactical themes for targeted training, (3) performance analytics identifying weak motifs, (4) 170+ curated puzzle sets across 5 skill levels. We built the book's method, then made it better.

Not to get started. Free users get all tactical themes, starter sets, unlimited cycles, full analytics, and Mistake Review. Premium (earned via referrals) gives you unlimited hearts and access to 1000-puzzle complete sets for deeper training.

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