Defence
Find the threat first, then find the best answer to it.
The idea
First see what your opponent threatens, then find the best answer.
- First see the threat: the queen gives check.
- Look at every answer: move the king, block, or take the checking piece.
- The rook blocks: the king protects it, and it attacks the queen.
In a game: After each move your opponent makes, ask what it threatens before you plan your own.
How the lesson begins
Good defence starts with one question: what is my opponent threatening? Then look at every answer. A check can be met in three ways: move the king, block the check, or take the piece that gives it.
Here White’s king on e2 is in check from the black queen. White blocks with the rook, and the king protects it. Watch.
- 21. Rd2 Qxd2+ 22. Kxd2
A question
White’s king is in check from the knight on f3. Which of the three ways of meeting a check is not possible here?
Show the answer
Blocking the check.
Right. A knight attacks by jumping, so there is no square between it and the king where a piece could block.
In numbers
In the puzzle bank
2,157 puzzles in GreyChess’s bank practise it. Half of them are rated between 1,750 and 2,712.
The piece that makes the first move of the answer: king 31%, pawn 28%, rook 15%, queen 13%, bishop 8%, knight 6%, in puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database.