Exercise 1.1Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♕e7?. Find the move that punishes it.
1
Tactics Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
Loose Pieces and Counting
Attackers and defenders
In this lesson you will learn
- What a loose (undefended) piece is and why it is a target
- How to count attackers and defenders
- Why you must count with the value of each piece
- The habit that prevents most blunders
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.
1.1 Loose Pieces Drop Off
Most tactics begin with a simple fact: a piece that nobody defends is a target. Grandmaster John Nunn put it in three words: loose pieces drop off. Before every move, look for your opponent's undefended pieces — and for your own.
Diagram 1.1Black to move
Example 1.1 · Count before you capture
Black's bishop on b4 and knight on c6 are both defended. Is any white piece loose?
After the exchanges on e4 and c3, the e4-pawn has lost its defenders and Black takes it. The method is always the same: list the attackers, list the defenders, and play out the captures in your head from the cheapest piece upwards.
Diagram 1.2Black to move
Example 1.2 · A queen grabs a pawn
White's queen has just taken the h7-pawn. Count the attackers and defenders of h7.
The queen on h7 is attacked by the rook on h8 and defended by nothing. 8...♖xh7 wins the queen for a pawn. This happens in real games more often than you would think: before you capture, ask what defends the square you are going to.
1.2 Counting with Values
It is not enough to count how many pieces attack and defend. A pawn defending a piece is worth more than a queen defending it, because if the queen recaptures, it can be taken. Always recapture with the cheapest piece first, and remember: a piece attacked by a cheaper piece is in danger even if it is defended.
- Count the attackers and defenders of the square.
- Play out the captures from the cheapest piece upwards.
- Stop counting when one side would lose material by continuing.
- A piece attacked by a cheaper piece must move or be protected by a pawn.
Blunder checkBefore you press the clock, ask two questions: Which of my pieces are undefended? What does my opponent's last move attack? These two questions prevent most blunders at club level.
Remember
- Loose pieces drop off: undefended pieces are targets.
- Count attackers and defenders, then play out the captures.
- Capture with the cheapest piece first.
- A piece attacked by a cheaper piece is in danger even if defended.
Exercises · Lesson 1
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 1.2Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 5...♗e7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.3Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 13...♕e7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.4Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘xe5?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.5Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♕xb2?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.6Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♖xh5?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.7Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.d5?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.8Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 4.♘a3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.9Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♕xf4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.10Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 5.♗d3?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.11Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♖d1?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.12Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.♕xd4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.13Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 5.♕xd4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.14Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♘ge7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.15Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 5...♕d7?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.16Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 5...♘xe4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.17Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♗xd4?. Find the move that punishes it.
Exercise 1.18Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 14...♘a6?. Find the move that punishes it.