Build your Woodpecker puzzle set
Choose a theme, rating, size and cycles, and Peck builds the set from real Lichess puzzles.
The options
How each option shapes your set
Theme
Leave it on any theme for a mixed set, or pick one motif, such as forks or back-rank mates, to drill a single weakness.
Target rating and spread
Puzzles come from a band around the target rating. Aim a little below your own: the Woodpecker Method works on speed, so the set should feel solvable.
Size
From 20 to 500 puzzles. Smaller sets cycle in an evening; larger ones cover more patterns but take weeks per cycle.
Cycles
How many times you will solve the whole set. Each cycle should be faster than the last, until the patterns are automatic.
FAQ
Questions about building a set
Is the puzzle set builder free?
Yes. Building a set and training it through every cycle is free. You need a free account to save the set, so Peck can track your cycles and the puzzles you miss.
How big should my first Woodpecker set be?
Around 100 puzzles is a good first set: big enough to cover the common patterns, small enough to finish a cycle in a few sessions. You can build a larger set once you know your pace.
What rating should I pick?
Slightly below your current puzzle rating. The method relies on solving quickly and accurately, so puzzles you can mostly solve beat puzzles that stump you.
Where do the puzzles come from?
From the Lichess puzzle database: real positions from real games, each with a single winning line, filtered by the theme and rating band you choose.