Free Woodpecker Method trainer
Make chess
tactics stick.
Repeat a fixed puzzle set, learn from mistakes, and track your speed and accuracy across cycles.
Start with Woodpecker Starter: 50 mixed tactics puzzles · 5-cycle goal. The puzzle rating range is shown when the catalog loads.
- Free to train
- No account needed to start
- Puzzles from Lichess
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HOW IT WORKS
One set.
Train, review, repeat.
Build lasting pattern recognition with a simple routine. Understand first, then let speed follow.
- 01
Choose a set
Start with the ready-made starter, browse by theme and puzzle rating, or create your own set.
- 02
Solve every puzzle
Work through your set at your own pace. Your active time and first-pass accuracy are recorded.
- 03
Review your mistakes
Revisit missed positions and explore the solution with engine analysis to understand the pattern.
- 04
Repeat and compare
Return to the same set and compare your time and accuracy with earlier cycles.
↻ Repeat the solve, review, and repeat steps for each new cycle.
Read the method guidePUZZLE SOURCE
Lichess
Real-game tactics, with sets organized by theme and puzzle rating.
YOUR TRAINING, YOUR PACE
One set. More insight.
Track active time, accuracy, and mistakes as you repeat your collection.
Woodpecker training FAQs
What is the Woodpecker Method?
Repeat the same tactics set in cycles to build pattern recognition, aiming for faster solves while keeping accuracy high. Hans Tikkanen developed the method and described it with Axel Smith in The Woodpecker Method, published by Quality Chess. Repetition does not guarantee a rating gain or a faster result every cycle.
Which set should I choose?
Start Training opens the ready-made Woodpecker Starter without an account. Choose my set lets you browse other collections by theme and puzzle rating. Pick a challenge you can understand without relying on reveals; puzzle ratings are not equivalent to game ratings. Sign in if you want to create a custom set.
How is first-pass accuracy measured?
First-pass accuracy is the percentage of attempted puzzles solved through the full line without a wrong move or revealing the solution. For example, 40 clean solves out of 50 attempted puzzles is 80%. A successful retry does not erase the original mistake, and separate mistake review does not change your cycle accuracy.
Can I take a break, and how is active time measured?
Yes. Pause or leave at any time and continue later. Active time counts time spent solving, including retries. It excludes pauses, hidden tabs, loading, and waiting after a position is resolved. Leaving the tab pauses training; resume explicitly when you return. There is no need to finish a cycle in one sitting.
What is a manageable starter routine?
This is an example schedule, not a time target: work through the starter's 50 mixed tactics puzzles in manageable sittings, such as 10 positions at a time. Finish cycle one, review missed positions, then repeat the same set toward its 5-cycle goal. Compare active time and first-pass accuracy after each cycle. You can continue beyond the goal.
How should I review mistakes?
Revisit missed positions, replay the solution and use engine analysis after completing the line to understand the critical moves. Look for the tactical pattern, such as a fork, pin or skewer. Avoid switching sets too quickly or chasing speed before understanding why the solution works.
Are these puzzles from the original book?
No. IgniteChess uses training collections sourced from the Lichess puzzle database, rather than the book's exercises.