Chess960 puzzles: Deflection

Force the defender away from its duty — then strike what it guarded.

Deflection forces the guard to leave its post: a sacrifice or exchange drags it away from the piece or square it protects. First find the critical defender — the piece whose absence makes the mate or the material win possible. Then find the move it cannot ignore, which is usually a capture. Do not be stingy: if removing the guard wins the queen or mates, the sacrifice pays for itself many times over.

157 puzzles

Attack on the uncastled king: rook to b8 (b5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to d5 (c3·2)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: queen to g4 (e2)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: rook to c8 (c1·6)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: queen to e7 (h4·3)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to d1 (b2)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: rook to f7 (f1·4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: queen to h8 (f8)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c8 (a7·2)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: rook to f8 (f4·2)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: queen to a6 (a1)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to c3 (b4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: pawn to f6 (g5·6)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to a6 (d3·5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to h6 (f5·4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: rook to e8 (e1·10)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: queen to f7 (c7)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: knight to c6 (b4·5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: queen to b2 (h8)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: bishop to g8 (b3·4)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: pawn to h6

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: pawn to d5 (c4·7)

Shuffle Rating 920

Winning blow: knight to f6 (e4·7)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: queen to e7 (e4·5)

Shuffle Rating 920

Tactics