Capturing the defender puzzles
Remove the piece that is protecting a target, then take the target.
About capturing the defender puzzles
Remove the piece that is protecting a target, then take the target. Often wins a piece in an exchange.
How to spot it
- List the defenders of the piece you would like to capture.
- Check whether one defender can be captured, even by a lower-value piece.
- Count the exchange to make sure you come out ahead.
A common mistake
Capturing the defender with a piece that then hangs.
A worked example
R
BR
K
Q
Q
B
N
B
RR
KWhite to move. Black has just played Qf6. Find the best move.
Solution: 21. Qxf8+ Qxf8 22. Bxf8 Kxf8 23. Bxf3
Qxf8+ checks the king and also attacks the bishop on c8 and the pawn on g7, so your opponent has to answer the check. The idea: Remove the piece that is protecting a target, then take the target.
The highlighted squares show Black's last move. This position is a different puzzle from the ones you start with above (1201 rating).
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Questions
Is capturing the defender the same as a deflection?
Close, but a deflection forces a defender to move, while capturing the defender takes it off the board.
Where do these puzzles come from?
They are real puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database, which is free to use under the CC0 license. Each one was built from a real game and tested by many players. We picked well-rated ones with good popularity scores.
Are the puzzles free?
Yes. There is no signup, no limit and no ads on the puzzles. Your progress on this page is not saved after you leave.
What do the difficulty levels mean?
Beginner puzzles are rated under 1250, intermediate 1250 to 1749 and advanced 1750 and up, using the rating Lichess players earned on each puzzle.