The deflection tactic

Chess tactics

What is deflection in chess?

Deflection forces an enemy piece away from an important job, like guarding a square or defending another piece. Once it has been pulled away, you take what it was protecting. It is often done with a sacrifice or a check.

How to spot it
  • Ask what each enemy piece is defending. If one defender has a key job, can you force it to move?
  • Offer a piece it must capture, or give a check it must answer, so it leaves its post.
  • Look for a mating square or a loose piece that suddenly becomes available.
A common mistake

Deflecting a piece that has a second defender. Always check that the target really is left unprotected.

Try it: real puzzles
Example 1: Black to move
Show the solution

50... g5+ 51. Kh5 Rxh3#

Example 2: Black to move
Show the solution

26... Rd1+ 27. Bf1 Ne2+ 28. Kh1 Rxf1#

Example 3: Black to move
Show the solution

25... Re1+ 26. Rf1 Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Rxf1#

Example 4: White to move
Show the solution

27. Rb7+ Ka8 28. Rxa6#

Train deflection puzzles in ChessPeak

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