Deflection is lesson 2 of 8 in Real-game tactics 3: Discovered attacks, deflection and decoys, a tactics course suited to players rated around 1000 (improving players). Force a defender to leave its post, often with a sacrifice it has to take. It has 7 interactive exercises: 7 calculated lines from real positions. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What you practise
White to move: deflect a defender and win.
Black to move: mate in 2.
White to move: mate in 2. (3 positions)
Black to move: deflect a defender and win. (2 positions)
Worked examples
White to move: deflect a defender and win. 1.Nxe6+ Qxe6 2.Bxe6. The knight sacrifice on e6 dragged the queen away from its duty. You win the queen on e6 and come out 7 points ahead.
Black to move: mate in 2. 1...Qxd1+ 2.Nxd1 Re1#. The king was trapped on the back rank behind its own pawns. Mate in 2.
More in Real-game tactics 3: Discovered attacks, deflection and decoys
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