Puzzles XV

It is time for something... right?

Ways of Defence

Defense is a reflection of the opponent's offensive actions. When protecting, you should remember an important rule:

Do not weaken on the part of the board where you are being attacked!

The player who plays the game must be able to feel in time that his position is deteriorating and it's time to move on to defense. If he or she continues to play accordingly to the planned plan, neglecting defense, then he or she will surely fail. Skill to anticipate the opponent's threats and to prevent them in a timely manner is called the "sense of danger". This feeling is one of the most important components of a chess player's strength, which must be developed already from the first steps of improvement.
Practice shows that all types of protection can be reduced to two main ones: active and passive.

Active defense is based on the creation of counter threats.
Passive defense is based on defensive actions. It is forced to resort to it when there are no opportunities for a counterattack.
Let`s look at some examples:

PROPHYLAXIS (It is aimed at stopping a future attack)

Van Flint - Nimzowisch (1907):

In addition to complex preventive moves, finding which requires certain efforts from a chess player, one must always remember about elementary ones, for example, “windows” for the king. 

COUNTER-BLOW (An unexpected tactical strike can radically change evaluation of position)

Alekhine - Mezirov (1933):

Uhlmann - Delhi (1962):

Lilienthal - Nezhmetdinov (1954):

TRAPS (diverting an opponent to the wrong path)

In hopeless positions, the losing side has meaning to set traps. Sometimes they work

Makogonov - Chekhover (1937):

Tartakower - Capablanca (1924):

EXCHANGE (reduce offensive capabilities of the opponent)

Smyslov - Keres (1941):

And now - exercises:

1. How can Black exchange rooks?

2. White's move. They are forced into an unfavorable exchange of queens, but there is hidden idea!

3. White threatens to play 1. Bxd7+ and 2. Rb8 with checkmate, but it's Black's move.

4. Black`s move

5. Black`s move. Show the best prophylactic move!

6. Seems like it's time for the Black to give up but they don't think so!

7. Black`s move

8. Black has just played 1.... Bxc4

9. White threatens to checkmate, but it is Black move.

10. White's move. Specify the best prophylactic move