apex64 Coach
Deflection
What it is
Deflection forces an enemy piece to abandon an important job — defending a square, a piece, or the back rank — usually by attacking it or offering a capture it must take. Once deflected, the thing it was guarding falls.
When to use it
Use it when a single enemy piece is overworked or is the sole defender of a mating square or a valuable piece.
How to use it
Identify what the key defender is holding together, then hit it with a check, a capture, or a threat it cannot ignore. When it moves, execute the threat on the now-undefended square.
Worked examples
Watch the coach play the tactic from real master games.