Deflection — force the defender away from its post
A tactical motif that lures a key defending piece to an inferior square.
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What is Deflection?
Deflection (also sometimes called distraction) is a chess tactic that forces an opponent's piece to abandon its defensive task. By attacking the defending piece, capturing it, or offering a sacrifice that it must accept, you compel the defender to move away from the square or piece it was protecting. Once the defender is deflected, the original target is left vulnerable and can be captured or exploited.
How It Works — Step by Step
What is Deflection?
Black's queen on d8 defends the rook on a8. White plays Qd5! — forcing the queen to deal with Qxf7# or lose the rook.
Deflecting the Back Rank Guard
Black's rook on f8 guards the back rank. White plays Qxf8+! — deflecting it. If Rxf8, then Re8+ leads to mate.
Deflection into a Fork
Deflecting the queen away from defending c7 allows a devastating knight fork on the next move.
Even Pawns Can Deflect
A simple pawn push can force a defender to leave its post. Here, d4 attacks the knight, forcing it away from defending f7.
Deflection in Your Openings
These openings frequently produce deflection opportunities
Italian Game
In the Italian Game, early attacks on f7 often involve deflecting the defending pieces, or sacrificing a piece to draw the king into the open.
View opening pageFrench Defense
Deflection tactics frequently occur around the d4 pawn in the French Defense, where Black tries to undermine White's center by forcing the defending pieces away.
View opening pageFamous Deflection Games
Anand played a brilliant game featuring a stunning deflection sacrifice (...Bc5!) that forced Aronian's pieces away from defending his king, leading to a memorable victory.
Tips for Club Players
When you see a piece you want to capture, ask yourself: 'What is defending it?' Then ask: 'Can I force that defender to move?'
Checks are the most forceful way to cause a deflection, as the opponent must respond immediately.
Don't rely on a single piece to defend your most critical weaknesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about deflection
Deflection is a tactic where you force an opponent's piece to move away from a square or piece it is defending, usually by attacking it or offering a sacrifice.
Deflection forces a piece *away* from a good defensive square. Decoy forces a piece *to* a bad square (often where it can be forked or mated). They are similar and often overlap.
Find deflection tactics in my games
Kingsights scans your real games to find deflection tactics you missed.
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