Removal of the defender

Removal of the defender begins with a simple question: which piece prevents the threat from working? The defender may protect an attacked piece, a square from which the enemy king would have no legal defense, a pawn close to reaching the last rank and becoming another piece, or an entry line. The characteristic method is to capture that defender so the target loses its protection.

The capture may look like an exchange of pieces with similar value or even the deliberate loss of a piece. What matters is the complete sequence: after the opponent takes the piece that captured the defender, is your intended target now available? The order is critical, because taking the main target first would allow the defender to answer.

Other ideas can neutralize a defense without taking the defender off the board. Interference blocks its line, while deflection forces it away from its duty. This glossary reserves removal of the defender for cases in which the defender is captured. Some sources use the name more broadly.