Attacking and Defending Pieces
A piece is said to attack (or threaten) an opponent's piece if, in the next move, it could capture that piece. A piece is said to defend (or protect) a piece of the defender's color if, in case the defended piece were taken by the opponent, the defender could recapture right away. Attacking a piece usually, but not always (see sacrifice), forces the opponent to respond if the attacked piece is undefended, or if the attacking piece is of lower value than the attacked one.
When attacked, one has several options:
- Capture the attacking piece.
- Move the attacked piece.
- Interpose another piece in between the two, if the attacker is not a knight and is not directly adjacent to the piece attacked.
- Guard the attacked piece and permit an exchange.
- Pin the attacking piece so the capture becomes illegal or unprofitable.
- Use a zwischenzug (create a counter-threat).
Read more about this topic: Chess Tactic
Famous quotes containing the words attacking, defending and/or pieces:
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“When I tell any truth it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those who do.”
—William Blake (1757–1827)
“The chartered recountants take the thing to pieces and put it together again. They enjoy it. The artist takes it to pieces and makes a new thing, new things. He must.”
—Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)