Remove the defender: deflection / overload
Pull away or overload a defender to win material or force mate.
Deflection and overload
Deflection pulls a defender off a key square; overload gives it more tasks than it can handle. Both leave the real target unprotected.
Overloaded rook on f7
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
- f7: Overloaded defender
- f6: Knight under defense
- c7: Rook under defense
Deflection
Force the key defender to abandon its duty.
- Sacrifice on the defender
- Forcing checks
- Pairs well with back-rank motifs or forks
Overload
Give one piece two incompatible duties so it drops one.
- Attack two targets it defends
- Exchange it off
- Look for missing interpositions
How to execute
Spot the key defender, then force it to move or to cover incompatible threats.
- Stack mate threat + material grab to overload it.
- Sacrifice a light piece if compensation is clear.
- Calculate the full sequence to the final capture.
Defending against it
Share the burden or shut lines to relieve the overloaded piece.
- Add a defender to split tasks.
- Trade off the attacking piece causing the overload.
- Create an immediate counter-threat (check, fork) to break the plan.
Drills and routine
Train your eye to spot overworked defenders.
- 10 deflection + 10 overload puzzles daily.
- Identify the piece defending multiple targets and remove it.
- Mix with back-rank themes to see common synergies.