For experienced players
Always scan your opponent’s targets for their defenders. If you can capture, deflect, or pin the defending piece, the target it was protecting will become a weakness you can exploit.
See also:Overloading·Deflection
Tactic
Undermining
Capturing the key defending unit protecting an enemy target, collapsing their defensive structure.
Starting position
The Setup
White's rook on d1 attacks Black's rook on d8. Black's rook is defended by the knight on c6. White also has a bishop on b5 pinning or attacking the knight.
Move sequences and interactive tour paths for Undermining
Starting Position (FEN): 3r2k1/pp3ppp/2n5/1B6/8/8/PPP2PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
Removing the Guard
- The Setup - White's rook on d1 attacks Black's rook on d8. Black's rook is defended by the knight on c6. White also has a bishop on b5 pinning or attacking the knight.
- Bxc6: Capturing the Defender - White captures the knight on c6. This eliminates the only defender of the d8 rook. Black must react to this capture.
- bxc6: Black Recaptures - Black recaptures the bishop with the b-pawn. However, the knight is gone, and the rook on d8 is now completely undefended.
- Rxd8#: Checkmate! - White captures the undefended rook, delivering checkmate. Removing the guard was the key to unlocking the back rank.