Week 9 — Removing the Defender
Goal: spot which enemy piece is acting as a guard, remove it, and collect the piece it was protecting.
What is removing the defender?
A valuable piece may look safe because another piece protects it. Removing the defender means capturing, exchanging, distracting, or neutralizing that protecting piece so the real target becomes loose.
Recognition routine: T–G–R–C
For beginners, look first for a removal move that is also a check or a capture. A forcing move gives the opponent less time to save the target.
Worked visual examples
Follow the orange arrow from the removing move, then identify the target and its guard.
Example 1
White to move
Exchange the rook guard, then take the queen
- Attacker: White rook on b1
- Target: Black queen on b7
- Defender: Black rook on e7
- Removing piece/idea: White bishop on h4
1. Bxe7+ Kxe7 2. Rxb7+
The bishop takes the queen’s only rook defender with check. Black has to answer the check; after the rook guard is gone, the b-file rook can take the queen.
Example 2
White to move
Trade queens to remove the defender
- Attacker: White bishop on f3
- Target: Black rook on c6
- Defender: Black queen on f6
- Removing piece/idea: White queen on e5
1. Qxf6+ Kxf6 2. Bxc6
White exchanges queens with check. When the black queen disappears, the rook on c6 loses its defender and the bishop collects it.
Example 3
White to move
A pawn can remove a defender too
- Attacker: White bishop on e5
- Target: Black rook on f6
- Defender: Black pawn on g7
- Removing piece/idea: White pawn on h6
1. hxg7+ Kg8 2. Bxf6
The g7-pawn is the rook’s guard. White captures that guard with check, so Black cannot spend the move saving the rook.
Example 4
White to move
Remove the guard with a rook check
- Attacker: White bishop on c3 / rook after the exchange
- Target: Black queen on g7
- Defender: Black rook on h7
- Removing piece/idea: White rook on h1
1. Rxh7+ Kg8 2. Rxg7+
The h7-rook is shielding the queen. Rxh7+ is forcing, and the bishop on d3 protects h7 so the king cannot simply take the rook.
Example 5
Black to move
Black uses the same bishop pattern
- Attacker: Black rook on b8
- Target: White queen on b2
- Defender: White rook on e2
- Removing piece/idea: Black bishop on h5
1... Bxe2+ 2. Kxe2 Rxb2+
Black takes the rook defender with check. Once that guard is gone, the rook on b8 has a clear capture of the white queen.
Example 6
Black to move
Black trades queens, then wins the rook
- Attacker: Black bishop on f6
- Target: White rook on c3
- Defender: White queen on f3
- Removing piece/idea: Black queen on e4
1... Qxf3+ 2. Kxf3 Bxc3
The queen trade removes the rook’s defender and comes with check. The bishop then wins the now-loose rook.
Example 7
Black to move
A black pawn clears the guard
- Attacker: Black bishop on e4
- Target: White rook on f3
- Defender: White pawn on g2
- Removing piece/idea: Black pawn on h3
1... hxg2+ 2. Kg1 Bxf3
The g2-pawn protects the rook. Black captures it with check, and then the bishop takes the unguarded rook.
Example 8
Black to move
A knight capture with check buys the tempo
- Attacker: Black bishop on g4
- Target: White queen on f3
- Defender: White knight on d2
- Removing piece/idea: Black knight on c4
1... Nxd2+ 2. Kg1 Bxf3
The knight on d2 is the queen’s guard. Nxd2+ removes it and checks the king, so White cannot use the turn to move the queen.
Example 9
White to move
An overloaded defender can be pulled away
- Attacker: White knight on c3 and bishop on g4
- Target: Black bishop on d5 and knight on f5
- Defender: Black pawn on e6
- Removing piece/idea: White knight capture on d5
1. Nxd5 exd5 2. Bxf5
The e6-pawn has two jobs. When it recaptures on d5, it leaves the f5-knight without protection, so White wins the second piece.
Example 10
White to move
A pinned defender cannot do its job
- Attacker: White rook on e1
- Target: Black queen on e5
- Defender: Black knight on f7
- Removing piece/idea: White rook on f1 neutralizes the knight by pinning it
1. Rxe5!
The knight on f7 appears to defend e5, but it is pinned to the king by the rook on f1. Nxe5 would expose the king to check, so the queen is effectively undefended.
Topic checklist
- Find a target that is attacked or can be attacked.
- Name every defender of that target.
- Prefer a defender that is the only guard.
- Look for a capture of the guard that also gives check.
- Count what you give up and what you win.
- Before moving, ask: “After my move, can the target escape?”
Exercises — exactly 10 puzzles
Find the best removing-the-defender move. Puzzles 1–3 are very direct; 8–10 require a little more board vision.
Puzzle 1 — White to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 2 — Black to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 3 — White to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 4 — Black to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 5 — White to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 6 — Black to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 7 — White to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 8 — Black to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 9 — White to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Puzzle 10 — Black to move
Task: Find the best move. Remove the key defender, then win the target.
Review / exit questions
- What is a “defender” in chess?
- Why is a removing move stronger when it also gives check?
- If a target has two defenders, what must you check before starting the tactic?
- What does it mean when one defender has two jobs?
- Before you capture a defender, what should you calculate?