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Yet, a protected piece might still not be safe.
You might find this hard to believe. So let’s find out how it works.
If one of your pieces is attacked twice, protecting it once is not enough. You need an extra defender. To protect a piece, you must have an equal number of defenders as the other side has attackers. If a piece is attacked twice, it needs double protection.
Have a look at the example. It shows how White keeps Black from capturing a knight, despite two attackers. Well done, White!
What do you have to do?
Defend a piece by protecting it twice.
Defense: double protection
You already know that protecting is a good way to defend a piece.Yet, a protected piece might still not be safe.
You might find this hard to believe. So let’s find out how it works.
If one of your pieces is attacked twice, protecting it once is not enough. You need an extra defender. To protect a piece, you must have an equal number of defenders as the other side has attackers. If a piece is attacked twice, it needs double protection.
Have a look at the example. It shows how White keeps Black from capturing a knight, despite two attackers. Well done, White!
What do you have to do?
Defend a piece by protecting it twice.
The knight is protected by the rook.
Super! But it isn’t good enough. Do you see why not?
Both of Black’s rooks are attacking the knight. There are two attackers.
And there is only one defender. That’s not enough.
Moving to a safe square is not an option, either, since there are no safe squares.
So, how is White to save his knight?
By adding another defender!
White moves the other rook to the first row.
This, too, is now protecting the knight.
Now White’s knight is safe.
Black can still take it, but that wouldn’t be smart.
Do you want to know why not? Click on the play button below to see what happens.
Did you see? White is still up in material.
Don’t forget: in chess, you are free to take or not. You do not have to capture!
In this situation, it is better for Black not to take the knight.
Super! But it isn’t good enough. Do you see why not?
Both of Black’s rooks are attacking the knight. There are two attackers.
And there is only one defender. That’s not enough.
Moving to a safe square is not an option, either, since there are no safe squares.
So, how is White to save his knight?
By adding another defender!
White moves the other rook to the first row.
This, too, is now protecting the knight.
Now White’s knight is safe.
Black can still take it, but that wouldn’t be smart.
Do you want to know why not? Click on the play button below to see what happens.
Did you see? White is still up in material.
Don’t forget: in chess, you are free to take or not. You do not have to capture!
In this situation, it is better for Black not to take the knight.
