The Many Ways to Remove the Guard
Ciao Chess Friends! Today we will see the many ways to remove the guard so we can plunder the treasure! The tactics will include the "classic" remove the guard, deflection, and decoy. Click those links to see the definitions if you don't know them. Puzzles below will be for white and black so please read carefully! By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott, aka BoundingOwl.
Each position in chess is different, but often you have a common goal. Mostly you want to win material or get checkmate, right? If a piece is guarding your goal, you have to eliminate it!
Here is an example: Do you see the tantalizing rook right next to your king? Why can't you capture it? Oh, it's guarded. Hey, remove that guard! (With check!)
Did you see that both sides had the same trick? That's why it's important to always look for forcing moves first. Now you try: White to move. Who is guarding what?
Excellent! Here black would like to win the queen, but it's protected, for now! You will win something, for sure.
Great! Another way to remove the defender is to lure it away. That's called decoy and usually involves a sacrifice. Remember, you can sacrifice if you're going to get something better! Try it! Instead of just trading rooks, what should black do first?
Another way to eliminate a guard is to force it to leave its post, using a deflection. Deflections also use sacs. Distract the piece that's guarding your checkmate square!
Finito! Here are some ideas to remember:
1. There are 3 ways to remove a defender: capture it, decoy it, or deflect it.
2. Look for forcing moves.
3. If you sac you'd better get something back! 
Do you want to practice more remove-the-guards, deflections, or decoys? Click on each link for more puzzles! See ya next time!