Prevent Defense: Bad in Football, Great in Chess
Hey Impressive Chessers!
How many times has this happened to you? Let’s say you’re “Katie.” Katie is playing a higher-rated opponent, and she’s managed to trick them—now she’s up two pawns. Woohoo! But now what?
Click --> here to go directly to the puzzles
Katie decides to launch an aggressive kingside assault, using those extra pawns to crash through. But as she pushes forward, she notices her opponent is up to something, too. A few moves later, her attack isn’t making progress, and her opponent’s counterplay is growing stronger. She still has her material advantage, but breaking through suddenly feels impossible.
Just as frustration sets in, Katie spots a brilliant four-move tactic—this will end the game in style! What a genius I am, she thinks. The first two moves go perfectly, and she’s already imagining the praise she’ll get when she shows this game to her coach.
But then—her opponent starts thinking. Are they about to resign? No! To Katie’s horror, they unleash a devastating zwischenzug (an in-between move), flipping the game on its head. What was supposed to be a brilliant finish has turned into a nightmare. Her "winning" tactic collapses, and suddenly, she’s the one losing.
Crushed, Katie crumples up her scoresheet and throws it in the trash (side note: your chess coach will not appreciate this—this was probably a great learning experience).
I hope by the end of this blog you'll know the advice that I would've given Katie, had I been her chess coach.
What is the Prevent Defense?
In football, the prevent defense is a strategy used when a team is winning or when time is running out in the first half or the game. Instead of focusing on stopping every single play, the defense concedes short gains—six to twelve yards per play—so long as the clock keeps running. The goal is simple: prevent the offense from making big, game-changing plays.
One key focus is protecting the sidelines. If the offense can complete a pass and step out of bounds, they stop the clock and gain more opportunities to score. The priority in a prevent defense is not stopping every reception but ensuring that any completed passes don’t allow easy progress.
The Downside to Prevent Defense in Football
While it sounds good in theory, the prevent defense often backfires. A disciplined offense can “dink and dunk” its way down the field, gaining small but consistent yardage. Before you know it, they’re in field goal range or even scoring a touchdown.
Legendary coach John Madden famously criticized the prevent defense, saying:
"All a prevent defense does is prevent you from winning."
This is why many coaches avoid it, opting to stick with the same aggressive defensive schemes that got them ahead in the first place. If you were one of the 30 million Americans watching the SuperBowl last night, you'll notice that Philadelphia never took their foot off the pedal and never gave Patrick Mahomes any respite.
“Prevent Defense” in Chess
In chess, however, the prevent defense is a totally different story!
Instead of being a passive strategy that lets your opponent make easy progress, a well-executed prevent defense is one of the most effective ways to neutralize your opponent’s plans and grind down their winning chances.
Why Use a Prevent Defense in Chess?
When you’re winning, it’s human nature to relax—even if you tell yourself not to. Meanwhile, your opponent, knowing they’re losing, is on high alert, desperately searching for any trick, tactic, or swindle to turn the tables. This means you are more vulnerable to mistakes, and they are more motivated to find a way back into the game.
This is exactly when you should switch to a prevent defense—by making the position as simple as possible through piece trades and reducing counterplay.
When to Use the Prevent Defense in Chess
✅ You're Up Two or More Points in Material
If you have a material advantage, trading pieces simplifies the position, reducing your opponent’s chances of setting traps. Even if you trade slightly unevenly—such as giving up a rook for a dangerous knight—it may be the most practical decision if it eliminates counterplay.
✅ The Endgame Will Be Better for You
Even if you're not ahead in material, consider steering the game into an endgame if:
- Your opponent has a weaker pawn structure (e.g., doubled or isolated pawns).
- Your opponent’s king is stuck while yours is active.
- You have long-term positional advantages that will shine in a simplified position.
✅ Your Opponent Has a Dangerous Attack
If your opponent has built up a strong attacking position, look for ways to trade off their key attacking pieces. Even if the resulting endgame is slightly worse for you, it’s often worth it—many attacking players struggle to adjust to a slow, maneuvering game after playing aggressively. This is a pro skill that many titled players use to avoid losses and sometimes turn precarious positions into wins!
Let’s See It in Action: Prevent Defense Puzzles
Now, let’s look at some puzzles that demonstrate the power of a well-timed prevent defense! Try them out and see if you can make the right practical decisions!
Puzzle #1
Puzzle #2
Puzzle #3
When I was doing research for this blog I came across: https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/defense-wins-chess-games where you'll find that I got Puzzle #3 from. Be sure to check out Jen's substack for more info on defense and countless other subjects!
Conclusion: Know When to Prevent
Unlike football, where the prevent defense often backfires, in chess, a well-timed prevent defense is a powerful weapon. The best players know when to keep pressing forward and when to shut down their opponent's chances completely.
Next time you're in a winning position or facing a dangerous attacking player, don't just focus on your own moves—anticipate what your opponent wants to do and stop it before it happens. If you can master this, you'll no doubt...
…Stay impressive! 💪♟️
NM Craig C.
