Clearance and interference
In short
Clearance: your own piece stands on a square or line you need for another piece. Move it away with a threat (often a sacrifice) so the line opens with tempo.
By the end you can
- Clear squares and lines with tempo
- Cut defenders off with interference
The lesson
Clearance: your own piece stands on a square or line you need for another piece. Move it away with a threat (often a sacrifice) so the line opens with tempo.
Interference: put a piece between an enemy defender and what it defends. Even if your piece can be captured, the defender’s line is cut at the critical moment.
Key points to remember
- Clearance: vacate a square/line with tempo
- Interference: block a defensive line
- Both often involve sacrifices
Examples
Show the solution
19... d3 20. Bxd3 Qf2+
Show the solution
28. Rf7+ Kg8 29. Qxd8#
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: clearance puzzles, interference puzzles.
Homework
10 clearance and 10 interference puzzles.
More tactics lessons
- Hanging pieces: take them and don’t leave them (Novice)
- Double attacks and forks (Novice)
- Pins: pieces that cannot move (Novice)
- Forks with every piece (Class F)
- Using and breaking pins (Class F)
- Skewers and x-rays (Class F)