Hanging piece

A hanging piece is one the opponent can capture now for a net material gain, meaning the sequence ends with more valuable pawns or pieces won than lost. It is usually undefended or has too little effective protection. The French expression en prise carries a closely related meaning: under attack and available for a profitable capture.

Direct profitable capture

The Bishop Takes an Undefended Queen

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Start

Bxb7

The bishop on g2 attacks the queen on b7.

The queen stands on an open diagonal

The bishop on g2 attacks the queen on b7. No black piece defends b7 or can recapture there.

1. The bishop on g2 attacks the queen on b7.

Counting attackers and defenders is a useful start, but it is not sufficient. A defender may be pinned, as in a cross-pin, overloaded with another duty, or unable to recapture because moving would expose the king. A seemingly free capture can also fail if it permits mate, a stronger counterthreat, or a tactic against the capturing piece.

Ineffective nominal defenseApparent capture without gain

The Defending Rook Cannot Leave the File

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Start

Bxh6

Rxg1

Kxg1

The bishop on c1 attacks the queen on h6.

The queen appears protected

The bishop on c1 attacks the queen on h6. The rook on g6 also attacks h6, but it stands between the white rook on g1 and the black king on g8.

1. The bishop on c1 attacks the queen on h6.

Check before capturing

1. List every possible capture and recapture on the square.
2. Verify that each defender can move legally.
3. Look for checks, captures, and intermediate counterthreats before the expected recapture.
4. Evaluate the position at the end of the sequence, not after the first capture.

An undefended piece is not necessarily hanging when no profitable capture exists. Conversely, a defended piece can be hanging when its defense is insufficient or tactically false. When one of your pieces is hanging, the best defensive move may move it, defend it, exchange it, or create a threat that prevents the capture.