apex64 Coach

Overloading

What it is

Overloading targets a piece that is doing two or more defensive jobs at once. Because it cannot fulfil both duties, you attack or remove it and one of the things it was defending collapses.

When to use it

Use it when you notice an enemy piece defending several points simultaneously — the classic sign is a single rook or queen guarding two loose pieces or a mating square plus a piece.

How to use it

Count the defender's responsibilities. If it guards two things, strike the one whose loss hurts most, or exchange the overloaded piece. When it is forced to choose, you win the other target.

Worked examples

Watch the coach play the tactic from real master games.