Removing the Defender

When you attack an enemy piece or pawn, the opponent will try to defend it. If you can remove the defender, your attack will succeed and you can win material.
Example 1: White is attacking Ne5 which is protected by f6 pawn. White to play and win

1. h4xg5 Ne5-d3  2. Bb2xf6  winning 2 pawns.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 2: White is attacking the Nf6 which is defended by g7 pawn. White to play and win.

1. Rg3xg7! Qe7xg7  2. Bb2xf6 Qg7-h7  3. Bf6xh8 winning a pawn.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 3: White is attacking Nc4 which is defended by Qf7. White to play and win.

1. Qh3-h8+ Qf7-g8  2. Qh8xg8+ Kf8xg8  3. Ne3xc4 winning a piece

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the above examples are from Chessguru. 

Learn more positions on my Lichess study page

More examples are at Chesscorner, Chess.com, Chessfox, Chessgames

Play through the Video below

 

Four Knights - Best Opening in Chess for Beginners

Beginners are faced with lot of confusion when they want to learn a good opening to play. The Four Knights opening is a simple and easy to play opening for beginners.

1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
3. Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6
4. Bf1-b5 Bf8-b4
5. 0-0 0-0
6. d2-d3 d7-d6
7. Bc1-g5 Bb4xc3
8. b2xc3 Qd8-e7
9. Rf1-e1 Nc6-d8
10. d3-d4 Nd8-e6
11. Bg5-c1 c7-c5
12. Bb5-f1 Rf8-d8
Equal Position


Other useful links on this topic: Chess.com Blog post, Wiki, iChess.net

Click here to learn this opening from my Lichess study page

Four Knights opening on Chessgames




Check the below video

Difficult Chess Problems

Try these difficult Chess Problems: Link1, Link2

Boden's Mate

This is a checkmating pattern with the two Bishops criss-crossing the enemy King.
The mate is known from the friendly game played below.
Schulder - Boden, London 1853

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. c3 f5
4. Bc4 Nf6
5. d4 fxe4
6. dxe5 exf3
7. exf6 Qxf6
8. gxf3 Nc6
9. f4 Bd7
10. Be3 0-0-0
11. Nd2 Re8
12. Qf3 Bf5
13. 0-0-0? d5!
14. Bxd5? Qxc3+!
15. bxc3 Ba3#

More details on Wiki, Chess.com & Chesshistory
Games with Boden's mate pattern
Boden's Mate Video