Tactical Course Demolition of Defence

A demolition of defence in chess is a tactical idea that removes one or more important defenders from the opponent’s position. Once the defensive structure has been broken, previously protected pieces or squares may become vulnerable and a decisive attack can follow.

The defending piece is often removed by a capture or sacrifice. An attacker may deliberately exchange a more valuable piece for a less valuable defender because eliminating that defender is more important than the immediate material cost. If the resulting position leads to checkmate or wins sufficient material, the sacrifice has fulfilled its purpose.

The king is frequently the ultimate target. A pawn or piece protecting the king may appear secure, but removing it can suddenly open a file, rank or diagonal towards the king. In other positions, destroying a defender removes control of a critical square and allows another attacking piece to enter the position.

A particularly powerful demolition occurs when the opponent has little choice but to recapture the sacrificed piece. The recapture itself may open the king’s position, move another defender away or place an opposing piece on a square where a further tactical idea becomes possible.

Material considerations can therefore become temporarily less important during a demolition combination. What matters is whether the remaining defence can withstand the attack after its key defender has disappeared.

The essential tactical idea is:

Demolition of defence removes a key defender so that the position it was protecting can be decisively attacked.

When solving the positions below, look particularly for which piece or pawn is essential to the opponent’s defence, what would become possible if it disappeared and whether a capture or sacrifice can remove it. ♟️🎯

Solutions in Chess Board