Attraction

Attraction means drawing an enemy piece onto a square where it is badly placed. The move is usually forced by a compulsory capture, a check, which is a direct attack on the king, or an immediate threat. The destination matters because the piece may then face another attack, obstruct a defense, or lose an escape route.

The king is a frequent target. A piece may be offered for capture nearby to force the king away from its defenders, open a line, or pull it into a mating net, a coordination of attacks that restricts its escape squares. Attraction can also target a queen, rook, or other piece when its new location allows pieces to be won or another series of forced moves to be carried out.

Drawn KingDrawn Piece

The King Enters the Fork

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

Start

Qxh7+

Kxh7

Ng5+

Kh6

Nxe4

From g5, the knight would attack e4 but not g8, so Black would have time to save the queen.

The queen can still escape

While the king remains on g8, Ng5 attacks the queen on e4 without check and allows a reply.

1. From g5, the knight would attack e4 but not g8, so Black would have time to save the queen.

Many sources use attraction as a synonym for decoy, and some reserve attraction mainly for the king. That distinction is not a rule of chess. To understand the position, identify three elements: which piece is forced to move, where it lands, and what new blow becomes possible there.