8 Must-Know Defensive Ideas

Before you open the link of the article try to find the defensive ideas, then open and check if you were correct  

https://chessmood.com/blog/how-to-defend-in-chess-8-must-know-defensive-ideas 

Article by GM Johan Hellsten

1. Mobilization

When your opponent starts to attack your King, it’s vital to bring pieces to the defense. More so, if there are more attackers than defenders near your King, you’re usually in trouble.

Westerberg J. ‑ Madebrink L., Vasteras Open 2016
 

White to move 

2. Defensive exchanges

If you’re able to eliminate one of your opponent's key attacking pieces, then your chances of successfully defending the position will increase.

Kozul Z. ‑ Velikov P., Graz Open 1987
 

Black to move

3. Blockade

Sometimes it’s possible to frustrate your opponent's attack by blocking their pawns with either one of your own pieces or one of your own pawns.

Laznicka V. ‑ Mammadov Z., Czech Open 2013
 

White to move 

4. Prophylaxis

If you are able to anticipate your opponent's next attacking moves, then you can take prophylactic measures, such as overprotecting weak points in advance.

Topalov V. ‑ Adams M., Las Palmas 1993
 

White to move

5. The brave King

Sometimes there’s no alternative other than to try to clear a path and march your King up the board to safety.

Cabarkapa N. ‑ Kovacevic A., Serbian Ch. 2020
 

Black to move

6. The escaping King

This is similar to the previous idea, just that the King moves away horizontally instead of vertically.

Shankland S. ‑ Martinez Romero M., Tromso (ol) 2014
 

White to move 

7. Sacrifices

Sometimes when defending, your only chance to continue the game is to give away some material. In the previous example, Shankland did this.

Here’s another game that features this idea:

Kohlweyer B. ‑ Tolnai T., Dortmund 1988
 

Black to move 

White has just played 16.Bh6, with a strong initiative for the sacrificed pawn. How would you react with Black here? Please, don’t be too materialistic!

8. Counter-attack

There is an old saying that "the best way to defend is to attack", which is exactly what this idea’s about. Instead of worrying too much about our own king, sometimes you should focus on the enemy King instead.

Tal M. - Akopian V., Barcelona 1992
 

White to move

This is something interesting...I appreciate it.

Nicee