Removal of the Defender – chess tactic
Removal of the Defender
Definition
Removal of the defender (sometimes called “elimination of the defender” or simply “remove the guard”) is a tactical motif in which a player forces, deflects, captures, or otherwise neutralizes a piece that is defending an important square, piece, or mating net. By eliminating that key defender, the attacker immediately makes the target vulnerable—often winning material, delivering checkmate, or gaining a decisive positional advantage.
Typical Methods of Removal
- Capture – Take the defender outright (e.g., Bxf6).
- Deflection/Lure – Tempt the defender to abandon its post with a sacrifice or threat (e.g., Qg4+ forcing ...Qxg4).
- Overload – Give the defender too many jobs, so it can’t protect everything (a cousin tactic often combined with removal).
- Interference – Block the line between defender and the guarded piece (e.g., interpose a piece).
How It Is Used in Chess
Players scan positions for pieces that are “defending twice but attacked three times,” pinned defenders, or defenders that can be trapped. Once spotted, they calculate how to eliminate or distract that piece. Removal of the defender is rarely an end in itself; it is a means to a more valuable end—usually winning a higher-value piece, promoting a pawn, or mating the king.
Strategic and Historical Significance
Though removal of the defender is purely tactical, it is strategically significant because it teaches the value of piece coordination and prophylaxis (anticipating the opponent’s ideas). Historically, many famous combinations—from Anderssen’s “Evergreen Game” (1852) to modern engine duels—hinge on eliminating a single vital guardian.
Illustrative Examples
1. Classic Combination: Anderssen – Dufresne, Berlin 1852 (“Evergreen Game”)
In the final tactic, Anderssen sacrificed his queen with 22. Qxd7+!! to remove Black’s key defender of the back rank (the queen on d7). After 22…Kxd7 23. Bf5# White’s minor pieces deliver mate.
2. Simple Puzzle: A Pin and Overload
Position (White to move): King g1; Queen d1; Rooks a1, f1; Bishop c4; Knight f3; Pawns a2, b2, c2, d3, e4, g2, h2.
Black: King g8; Queen d8; Rooks a8, f8; Bishop c8; Knight c6; Pawns a7, b7, c7, d6, e5, g7, h7.
1. Nxe5+! dxe5 2. Rxf8+ Qxf8 3. Qf3+ wins the queen. White removed the f8-rook, the only defender of the back-rank pin on the queen.
3. Modern Engine Battle: Komodo vs. Stockfish, TCEC 2021
In a Najdorf, Stockfish sacrificed an exchange with …Rxc3!! to eliminate the c3-knight, sole defender of White’s e4-pawn and kingside. Within five moves, Black’s queen invaded on h4 with a decisive attack. The engines evaluated the position at ‑5 after the defender disappeared.
Step-by-Step Identification Checklist
- Locate a valuable target (king, queen, passed pawn, etc.).
- Identify the sole or critical defender(s).
- Ask: “Can I capture, deflect, overload, or block that defender?”
- Calculate forcing sequences: checks, captures, threats.
- Verify the resulting position—ensure the target is truly undefended.
Practical Tips
- Look for pinned defenders; they are especially vulnerable.
- Coordinate multiple threats so that removing the defender accomplishes two goals at once (e.g., opens a file and wins material).
- Beware of “phantom defenders” — pieces that seem tied to a square but can safely abandon it if another resource exists.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Grandmaster Bent Larsen said, “When one piece defends everything, it defends nothing.” His attacking style often centered on removing a single overworked defender.
- Engines have pushed the motif to new extremes; Stockfish will sometimes sacrifice multiple pieces to take away a single bishop guarding the king.
- In simultaneous exhibitions, masters frequently set traps based on removal of the defender because casual players rarely notice an overloaded piece.
Mini-Test
Try to solve:
Hint: What piece defends both the queen and the f7-pawn?
Summary
Removal of the defender is a foundational chess tactic that exploits the interdependence of pieces. By understanding and practicing this motif, players sharpen their tactical vision and learn to appreciate the hidden connections that hold a position together.