Removing the defender is lesson 4 of 8 in Real-game tactics 3: Discovered attacks, deflection and decoys, a tactics course suited to players rated around 1000 (improving players). If a piece or a square is guarded only once, take or chase away the guard and it falls. It has 6 interactive exercises: 6 calculated lines from real positions. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What you practise
Black to move: mate in 2. (2 positions)
White to move: mate in 2. (3 positions)
White to move: remove the defender and win.
Worked examples
Black to move: mate in 2. 1...Qxg3+ 2.Kf1 Qg1#. The king was trapped on the back rank behind its own pawns. Mate in 2.
White to move: mate in 2. 1.Qxb8+ Bc8 2.Qxc8#. The king was trapped on the back rank behind its own pawns. Mate in 2.
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