Interference: a practical example
A piece placed between a rook and a square it must defend can cut off that protection. Sometimes the interfering move is a sacrifice, because capturing the inserted piece still leaves the defender unable to meet a separate threat.
How to use the idea in your games
Trace defensive lines as carefully as attacking lines. Identify which square could be occupied to interrupt communication, and verify that the move does not simply lose material without benefit.
A useful study question
Can you explain interference 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
Deflection, Combination, Open file 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™.