What is Deflection in chess?
Forcing a defending piece away from the square or piece it protects.
A deflection drags a key defender off its post - often with a check or capture - so you can grab what it was guarding.
Spot deflection in your own games
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Analyze my games →More chess terms
- DecoyLuring an enemy piece (often the king) to a bad square.
- OverloadingGiving one defender too many jobs so it can't cover them all.
- Removing the defenderCapturing or chasing away the piece that guards an important target.
- BatteryTwo pieces lined up on the same file, rank, or diagonal to multiply their force.
- WindmillAlternating checks from a rook and bishop that force the king back and forth while picking off material.
- X-ray attackA piece attacks or defends through another piece that stands in the way.