Removal of Defender

Removal of defender occurs when one side (usually through sacrificial means) captures a piece which was important for some defensive purpose. This is different from deflection in which the defending piece is merely distracted from its main task. In this case the defender itself is destroyed. Here is an example:

Astaneh Lopez(2346) – Collins(2394)

Masters Bunratty IRL, 2008

White to move, Beginner puzzle from KEBU Chess Tactics Software 2009

Black’s pawn on d5 holds the position together, so White annihilates it. 38.Nxd5! Nxd5 39.Bxd6+ Rxd6 (if 39…Nxd6 40.Rxe8+ Nxe8 41.Bxd5 +-) 40.Rxe4. This example demonstrates removal of a defender as White simply captured the key defender (the d5 pawn) even though this seemed to cost him a full knight. In the end it is White that ends up ahead a pawn and with a winning game.

Here’s another example:

Lavrik(2387) - Vorobiov(2550)

Zvenigorod open, 2008

White to move, Beginner puzzle from KEBU Chess Tactics Software 2009

White is oh-so-close to delivering mate in h7 via Rxh7#. However, the pesky knight on f6 prevents this dream from becoming a reality. Therefore: White played 25.Qxf6!! and Black resigned because of 25…Bxf6  26.Rxh7#.

These examples were taken from games played very recently (last year) directly from KEBU Chess Tactics Software. You can download a free version here for more puzzles like these.