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Chess/Tactics

< Chess
The latest reviewed version was checked on 4 January 2023. There are 7 pending changes awaiting review.

Guarding

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When one of your pieces is placed so that it attacks a square occupied by another of your pieces, the former is said to be guarding the latter. When your opponent captures the guarded piece, you can recapture with the guarding piece. Note that if a guarding piece is pinned to your king (see below for a description of pins), it can only guard other pieces against capturing by the enemy king, but not from other enemy pieces, since it is unable to move or capture.

Batteries

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8a8 black kingb8 black rookc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black pawnb7 black kingc7 black rookd7 black queene7 black knightf7 black kingg7 black pawnh7 black king7
6a6 white pawnb6 black pawnc6 black knightd6 black kinge6 black pawnf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black pawn6
5a5 black kingb5 white bishopc5 black kingd5 black pawne5 white pawnf5 black pawng5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 white pawnc4 black kingd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 white pawng4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white rookd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 white rookd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 white queend1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
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Alekhine-Nimzowitsch 1930 after 26. Qc1.

Batteries are formed when two or more pieces work together. The most common kind of battery is the doubling of rooks on a file. Other batteries can be formed by rook-queen, bishop-queen, two knights or a bishop-pawn.

A triple battery can be constructed with the queen and both rooks. This is known as Alekhine's gun (diagram at right) and can be extremely dangerous. It is often advantageous to place the queen behind one or both rooks as it is a more valuable piece.

The Exchange

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In almost any game, a player will have the opportunity to capture one of his opponent's pieces in exchange for sacrificing or losing one of his own pieces. This should however NOT be done for its own sake! Initiate an exchange only when it benefits you. Benefits can include, but are not limited to:

  • Material advantage - Exchanging one of your pieces for a more valuable opponent's piece (e.g. exchanging a bishop for your opponent's Queen).
  • Doubling pawns - Take when taking back means the doubling (or tripling) of your opponent's pawns on the same file.
  • Opening up the king's defenses - Take when taking back means moving a pawn that exposes the king.
  • Removing a defender - Take when the piece being taken is providing an essential service for the opponent.
  • Blunting an attack - When you are being attacked, often a well timed exchange will leave your opponent with too few pieces to keep up the attack.
  • Gaining space - In a cramped position, having more pieces can actually be a disadvantage because the pieces get in the way of each other. If your opponent has a space advantage, exchanging pieces can lessen the advantage and make the resultant position less confining.
  • Improving a material advantage - if you are ahead material, exchanging pieces will usually benefit you (note - pieces, NOT pawns). Similarly, if you have an extra pawn, trade pieces that may otherwise be used as a sacrifice to prevent pawn promotion.
  • Forcing checkmate - If you are able to force a checkmate by exchanging pieces, you should always take the exchange, even if the exchanges seem poor (e.g. sacrificing a Queen for a bishop). Note that a forced checkmate is one where there is no way for your opponent to prevent the checkmate.
  • Threatening checkmate - Sometimes, you can propose an exchange where you can force a checkmate if your opponent accepts the exchange. That is if your opponent captures your piece after you capture one of their pieces, you are then able to force a checkmate.
  • Preventing checkmate - If you are in a situation where the only way out of a checkmate is to exchange pieces, you must make the exchange.

Forks and Double Attacks

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8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black rookf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 white knightg7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
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The Royal Fork

Sometimes a piece can be in position to attack two enemy pieces at once. This is called a fork or a double attack. All pieces can fork, even pawns, but knights have a reputation for making especially vicious forks because other pieces cannot block their way because the endangered pieces cannot defend by attacking it, unless they are another knight.

Forking with check

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A knight fork that attacks the king from an unguarded square is very powerful. The opponent must then move his king to safety and the other piece in the fork has no chance of escape.

The Royal Fork

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A royal fork is one involving both your opponent's king and queen. In the example shown here, white's knight on f7 has engaged black in a royal fork. Black will be down the exchange of a queen for a knight.

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8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black rookb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black pawnd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black pawnh6 black king6
5a5 black pawnb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 white pawnb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 white queene4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 white pawnh3 black king3
2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 white kingh2 white pawn2
1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 black king1
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A Queen Fork - Black to Move

Forks do not always win material

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If every time you saw a fork you played it, you would be making a mistake. You have to examine the different possibilities to escape the fork. In the queen fork on the right white has just played 1.Qd4+ forking the black king and rook. However black can play 1. ...Rg7 blocking the check and moving the rook to safety (although white could play 2.Qxg7, taking the rook, black could then play 2. ...Kxg7, taking the queen; white will then have lost the Exchange and will be unable to destroy Black's pawn majority, resulting in a forced win for Black, a queened pawn, and a king-queen checkmate.)

However 1.Qd4 is by no means a bad move. Perhaps White played 1.Qd4 in order to force black to play 1. ...Rg7 in which White can now play 2.Qd8+ (fork on king and pawn) Rg8 (forced) followed by 3.Qxa5 in which case White can push his a-pawn. Here White forked Black's king and rook not to win the rook but to later win a pawn by a fork, and pave the way for his a-pawn to become promoted to a queen. He might have also intended to play 3.Qf6+ Rg7 (forced) 4.Qxc6, eliminating Black's passed pawn.


Pinned pieces

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8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black bishopc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 black king1
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The white knight pinned by the black bishop

A pinned piece is a piece that cannot move because it would expose an attack on an important piece by one of the opposing pieces, such that the capture of said piece would result in material gain by the opponent. A great tactic is to pin the opponent's pieces to his king; this is known as an absolute pin. For example, take a look at the board on the right. Black just moved his dark-squared bishop to b4. The white knight is now pinned and cannot move, because moving the knight would put himself in check. White's only way to stop the pin is to move his king. The pawn on e4 is no longer guarded by the knight, since the knight could not move to exchange.

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8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black kingd7 black knighte7 black kingf7 black rookg7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black pawnd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white bishopd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
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Attack the pinned piece, white to move

The position diagrammed to the right shows the theme of attacking the pinned piece. White can look at this position and immediately take the rook and win an exchange. However this wouldn't even be the best move. If white did this then the material would be dead even; however, white has more pawn islands and it would be a very close game. Instead, white can play Ng5! The rook cannot move, and black has no way of effectively defending the rook a second time, therefore Black will eventually lose a rook. So, if you have pinned a piece, try to see if you can attack the piece again, and if a piece of yours is pinned, try to see if your opponent can attack it again. The moral of the story: if you see a good move, stop and look around for a better one.

In contrast to the absolute pin, a relative pin occurs when one player's piece is pinned to one of lesser value than the king, such as a queen or rook. If the benefit of moving the pinned piece outweighs the loss of material occasioned by the capture of the exposed piece (for example, if a forced mate may be achieved), then the pin can be disregarded and the pinned piece moved.


Skewers

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8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 white rookg1 white kingh1 black king1
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A skewer about to happen

A skewer is similar to a pin, but it is in a sense more powerful. The difference between a pin and skewer is the location of the more important piece. In a pin the lesser piece blocks the attack on the more important one, in a skewer the more important piece is attacked first and when it moves it exposes the lesser piece behind it to be hit. Black has, in a blunderous moment, placed his king on d7 in front of his queen on d8. White may now triumphantly slide either rook to d1, skewering Black's king and queen. Since Black cannot block the check, the king has to move, exposing the black queen to the attack of the white rook.


Discoveries

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A discovery is an attack on an enemy piece which is unveiled by moving one of your pieces. The power of discoveries is that two targets can be attacked simultaneously. If combined with a check they can be lethal.

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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black rook d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black knight h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 white pawn b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 white knight f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 white bishop g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 white pawn h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
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If white moves his knight...
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black rook d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black knight h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 white knight e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 white pawn b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 white bishop g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 white pawn h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
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...it's a discovered check...
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black rook d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black knight h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 white knight e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 white pawn b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 white bishop g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 white pawn h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
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...and after he moves...
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black rook d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black knight h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 white knight c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 white pawn b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 white bishop g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 white pawn h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
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...a sacrifice...
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black rook d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black knight h8 black rook 8
7 a7 black king b7 black pawn c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 white pawn c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 white bishop g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 white pawn h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 white pawn g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 white king h1 black king 1
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...and after 3...axb6 4.axb6, it's another discovered check and mate!


Note that White's 1.Nd7+ was a double check, a type of discovered check where the piece moving also gives check. Such checks are very powerful, since the king is forced to move (both checks cannot be blocked at the same time). They are also often lethal, as in the above game.

A simpler example of a discovered checkmate is shown below.

a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 white rook d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white queen c2 black king d2 white pawn e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 white king 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
This would normally be a checkmate, but White's pawn is in the way. So White plays 1.d4...
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 white pawn e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 white rook d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white queen c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 white king 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
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...discovered check and mate!

Removing the defender

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By first capturing, threatening, or pinning a piece that guards another, you should be able to capture the other piece for free. You can also remove the defender of a position. By using tactics you might be able to force a checkmate!

Sacrifices

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A sacrifice is an exchange of a piece for a non material advantage:

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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black queen c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black knight 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 black king h1 white king 1
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After 1. Kh1
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black knight 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 white rook g1 black queen h1 white king 1
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After 1. ... Qg1+
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black knight 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 white rook h1 white king 1
a b c d e f g h
After 2. Rxg1
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8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black pawn b7 black pawn c7 black pawn d7 black king e7 black king f7 black pawn g7 black pawn h7 black pawn 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black king c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 white pawn b2 white pawn c2 white pawn d2 black king e2 black king f2 black knight g2 white pawn h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 white rook b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 white rook h1 white king 1
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After 2. ... Nf2#


In the first diagram, White just moved 1. Kh1 to get out of check.

Black sacrifices his queen with 1...Qg1+ for a winning positional advantage - White is in check and can not take with his king because the knight guards the queen.

2. Rxg1 - forced - this smothers the king - he cannot move because his own pieces are on every square he could go to - any check on an unguarded square now is mate.

2...Nf2# Checkmate. This queen's sacrifice was an example of a smothered mate (in which a knight delivers a checkmate that is caused by the king's inability to move anywhere). In fact, this is a special kind of smothered mate, called Philidor's Legacy.


Zwischenzugs

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a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 black king h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black pawn c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black pawn g3 white rook h3 black king 3
2 a2 black bishop b2 white king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black king g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 black king b1 black king c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
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A demonstration of Zwischenzug.
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 black king b8 black king c8 black king d8 black king e8 black king f8 black king g8 white rook h8 black king 8
7 a7 black king b7 black king c7 black king d7 black king e7 black king f7 black king g7 black king h7 black king 7
6 a6 black king b6 black king c6 black king d6 black king e6 black king f6 black king g6 black king h6 black king 6
5 a5 black king b5 black king c5 black king d5 black king e5 black king f5 black king g5 black king h5 black king 5
4 a4 black king b4 black king c4 black king d4 black king e4 black king f4 black king g4 black king h4 black king 4
3 a3 black king b3 black pawn c3 black king d3 black king e3 black king f3 black king g3 black king h3 black king 3
2 a2 black king b2 white king c2 black king d2 black king e2 black king f2 black pawn g2 black king h2 white pawn 2
1 a1 black king b1 black bishop c1 black king d1 black king e1 black king f1 black king g1 black king h1 black king 1
a b c d e f g h
After 2... Bb1! (white resigned)

A Zwischenzug (pronounced "TSVISH-en-tsoog",) or "in-between move," is one that is made unexpectedly in the midst of a sequence of moves. But not just any series of moves, one in which the player falling for the Zwischenzug feels the sequence is forced, while his opponent demonstrates to him that it certainly isn't! Most commonly these fall in between trades where a recapture seems to be the only proper means of play.

Such in-between moves often have a surprising and pleasing effect of increasing the potency of a combination beyond the opponent's expectations.

In Borisenkov-Mezenev (shown in the diagram to the right), black played 1... f2, threatening to queen, which White countered with 2. Rg8, intending 3. Rf8+, and 4. Rxf1. But White resigned after the Zwischenzug 2... Bb1! which allows Black to queen (3. Kxb1 f1=Q+ or 3. Rf8+ Bf5).

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