Deflection - chess tactic
Deflection
Definition
Deflection is a forcing tactical device in which an enemy piece is lured or compelled to leave (or enter) a square, line, or duty that it must continue to hold. Once the defender has been deflected, an underlying target—usually the king, a major piece, or a queening square—becomes vulnerable, often resulting in an immediate material gain or checkmate.
Typical Mechanics
Deflection usually takes one of three practical forms:
- Capture & Recapture – You sacrifice a piece on the key square, forcing the defender to recapture and thus abandon another task.
- Forcing Check – A check drags the defending piece away because blocking or capturing is mandatory.
- Tempting Decoy – A seemingly attractive move entices the piece onto a square where it interferes with its own defense (closely related to the decoy motif).
Strategic & Historical Significance
Deflection belongs to the family of forcing motifs and is often combined with forks, pins, and the overloading of a single defender. Because the required moves are usually forcing, masters employ deflection to convert promising positions into concrete gains; computers, meanwhile, find such ideas effortlessly, so modern players must be especially alert. Historically, many celebrated brilliancies—Morphy’s “Opera Game,” Lasker–Bauer (Amsterdam 1889), and Torre–Lasker (Moscow 1925)—feature emblematic deflection sacrifices.
Illustrative Diagrams (verbal)
Below are three classic positions you can set up on a board to visualise the tactic.
1. Elementary Example
Position. White: King g1, Queen d1, Rook a1, Bishop c4, Knight g5, Pawns a2, b2, c2, d3, e4, f2, g2, h2. Black: King g8, Queen d8, Rook a8, Rook h8, Bishop c8, Knight f6, Pawns a7, b7, c7, d6, e5, f7, g7, h7. White to move.
Solution. 1. Nxf7 wins at once. If 1…Kxf7 (deflection!), the queen on d8 is now undefended and 2. Nxd8+ picks it up.
2. Intermediate Example – Reti vs. Tartakower, Vienna 1910
Position after 24…Ne5. White: King g1, Queen e2, Rook d1, Rook e1, Bishop c2, Knight d4; Black: King g8, Queen c7, Rook a8, Rook e8, Bishop b7, Knight e5. White to move.
Play. 25. Nb5! Qb8 26. Nd6! (forking everything) Bxd6 27. Rxd6 Qxd6 28. Bxe5 — the queen is deflected from guarding e5, netting a piece.
3. Famous Brilliancy – Torre vs. Lasker, Moscow 1925
Key sequence: 22. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 23. Rh3+ Kg8 24. Rh8+!! Kxh8 25. Nxf7+ — The queen sacrifice deflects the black king twice, uncovering a royal fork that wins the queen. [[Pgn|1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 b6 6.Nbd2 Bb7 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Qe2 d6 9.c3 Nbd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rfe1 Re8 12.Rad1 a6 13.h3 b5 14.a3 Qc7 15.Nf1 Bf8 16.N3h2 g6 17.Ng3 Bg7 18.Qd2 e5 19.Bh6 exd4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Nf5+ Kh8 22.Qxh7+!! Kxh7 23.Rh3+ Kg8 24.Rh8+!! Kxh8 25.Nxf7+ Kg8 26.N5h6+ Kf8 27.Ng5 Rxe1+ 28.Kh2 Rae8 29.Bxg6 d5 30.f4 Qxf4+ 31.g3 R8e2#]]
Practical Tips for Spotting Deflection
- Identify overworked defenders. Any piece guarding more than one critical square is a prime deflection target.
- Scan for unprotected pieces behind the defender—often a king, queen, or rook.
- Remember that checks and captures are the most forcing tools. Ask: “If my move is taken, where will the recapturing piece stand, and what will it now fail to defend?”
- In endgames, deflection often targets the king: pulling it off the queening square or away from a pawn race.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The German school of tactics coined the term “Ablenkung” (diversion), which English literature translated as “deflection.”
- Computer engines evaluate deflection sacs very quickly because the lines are forcing; many modern brilliancies begin with a tactical spike that a human might miss but a silicon assistant sees instantly.
- The absolute pin can facilitate a deflection: deflecting the pinned piece’s defender often turns the pin into immediate material gain.
- Deflection isn’t limited to pieces—whole concepts like “king deflection” (Torre–Lasker) or “rook deflection” (Reti–Tartakower) show that even monarchs can be dragged off course.
Summary
Deflection is a cornerstone tactic every competitive player must master. By forcing a defender to abandon its post at the critical moment, the attacker converts pressure into concrete advantage—often spectacularly. Keep an eye on overworked pieces, visualize the board one move ahead, and you will soon spot (or avoid!) dazzling deflection combinations in your own games.