Exercise 8.1Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♗g5?. Find the move that punishes it.
8
Tactics Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
Deflection and Decoy
Sacrifices that drag pieces away
In this lesson you will learn
- Deflection: forcing a defender to leave its post
- Decoy: luring a piece onto a bad square
- Why a sacrifice must be followed by a forcing move
- Recognising targets for deflection
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
8.1 Pulling Pieces Away
In a deflection, you offer material to a defending piece; if it takes, it abandons its duty. In a decoy, you lure an enemy piece — often the king — onto a square where it can be forked, skewered or mated. Both ideas use a sacrifice, and both need a strong follow-up.
Diagram 8.1White to move
Example 8.1 · Smothered mate
The black king is surrounded by its own pieces. White's queen and knight work together.
1.♕g8+! is a decoy: the rook must take, and it blocks the king's last flight square. 2.♘f7# is the famous smothered mate. The queen sacrifice was only possible because the follow-up was forced.
Remember
- Deflection: force a defender to leave its post.
- Decoy: lure a piece onto a fatal square.
- A sacrifice needs a forcing follow-up: check, capture or mate threat.
- Look for defenders with important jobs.
Exercises · Lesson 8
Every exercise comes from real opening play and has been checked with a chess engine. Find the strongest move and play it on the board.
Exercise 8.2Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 11.♘h5?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.3Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♘e7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.4Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♕e7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.5Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.♖g1?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.6Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♕d7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.7Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘a4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.8Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♗e7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.9Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.f4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.10Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♕d8?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.11Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘e2?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 8.12Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 8.♕e3?. Find the move that punishes it.