White to move

Save pieces and prevent mate

Tactics · Lesson 17 of 17

What it’s about

  1. After each opposing move, ask what would happen if you ignored the threat. Check attacked pieces and possible checks.
  2. Move a threatened piece to a safe square. Check enemy attacks there again; a capture does not automatically save the piece.
  3. Against back-rank mate, a flight square for the king or defence of the back rank often helps. More than one answer can be right.
I know this – practise now