Deflection: a practical example
A rook defending a back-rank mating square might be challenged by a sacrifice elsewhere. If it captures, the original mating defense disappears. The idea works only when the defender cannot fulfill both tasks or choose a stronger alternative.
How to use the idea in your games
Name the defender's essential job before searching for a sacrifice. This makes it easier to see which exchanges would remove the protection you need to overcome.
A useful study question
Can you explain deflection in your own words, identify it in a position, and describe when the idea does not apply? Test the explanation on a legal board before relying on it.
Connect the ideas
Overloading, Back-rank mate, Sacrifice are useful next concepts. Follow the links to compare definitions and examples, then return to the complete chess glossary whenever an unfamiliar term appears.
Sources & further reading
References checked September 5, 2026. Linked services are independent of ChessRankings.com™.