Removing the defender is lesson 1 of 9 in Deflection and decoy, a tactics course suited to players rated around 1400 (club players). If a piece or a square is guarded only once, take the guard and it falls. 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
Black to move: remove the defender and win.
White to move: mate in 2. (2 positions)
Black to move: mate in 2. (4 positions)
Worked examples
Black to move: remove the defender and win. 1...Bxe6 2.hxg5 Nxg5. Taking the knight on e6 removed the defender of g5. You win the knight on e6 and come out 3 points ahead.
White to move: mate in 2. 1.Rxd8+ Re8 2.Rxe8#. Taking the rook on d8 removed the defender of e8. Mate in 2.
chessGM