Step 1 · A piece nobody guards
White to move
r5k1/p3b1pp/2n5/8/8/2N2B2/PP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1A piece with no defender is loose. Look at the three marked black pieces and find the one you can take for free.
Which black piece can you take for free?
Quick check
- The bishop on e7
- The knight on c6
- The rook on a8
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: The knight on c6 — Yes — nothing guards c6, and your bishop on f3 sees it along the long diagonal.
- The bishop on e7 — The knight on c6 guards e7 — and none of your pieces attacks e7 anyway.
- The rook on a8 — Nobody guards a8, but none of your pieces can reach it. A loose piece only matters when you can attack it.
Step 2 · Take it
White to move
Explore the moves
Starting position
Read the full continuation
- 1.Bxc6 — Bishop takes knight, and nothing can take back: c6 had no defender. That is a free piece.
FEN
r5k1/p3b1pp/2n5/8/8/2N2B2/PP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1Bishop from f3 to c6.
The move: Bf3xc6
Common mistake: The knight on c6 is still there. Your bishop on f3 reaches it along the diagonal: f3 to c6.
Step 3 · Do not hang your own
White to move
Explore the moves
Starting position
Read the full continuation
- 4.Ba4 — Safe. Your bishop stepped back and stays in the game.
FEN
r1bqkbnr/1ppp1ppp/p1n5/1B2p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 4Now the other way round: the pawn on a6 attacks your bishop. Do not leave it hanging — retreat the bishop to a square no black piece attacks.
The move: Bb5-a4
Common mistake: Your bishop can still be taken. Retreat it to a4, c4, d3, e2 or f1 — no black piece attacks those squares.
What you learned
Before you move, ask two questions: which of their pieces has no defender — and which of mine?
Practise this idea
Put this lesson into practice with these puzzles from the public-domain collection.
- Hanging pieces — 12 positions