Deflection is lesson 2 of 9 in Deflection and decoy, a tactics course suited to players rated around 1400 (club players). A defender with an important job can be dragged away: give it something it must take or block, and the square it guarded is yours. 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
White to move: mate in 2. (2 positions)
Black to move: mate in 2. (3 positions)
White to move: deflect a defender and win.
Worked examples
White to move: mate in 2. 1.Qxc6+ Qd7 2.bxa8=Q#. The queen on d8 was forced away and could no longer guard a8. Mate in 2.
Black to move: mate in 2. 1...Qc1+ 2.Rd1 Qe3#. The rook on d3 was forced away and could no longer guard e3. Mate in 2.
chessGM