Hanging pieces: take them and don’t leave them
In short
A piece is “hanging” when it can be captured and nothing protects it. At this level more games are decided by hanging pieces than by anything else.
By the end you can
- Spot undefended pieces for both sides
- Count attackers and defenders
The lesson
A piece is “hanging” when it can be captured and nothing protects it. At this level more games are decided by hanging pieces than by anything else. Train your eyes to scan the board for unprotected pieces — yours and your opponent’s — after every move.
When a piece is attacked several times, count: how many of your pieces attack it, and how many defend it? If attackers outnumber defenders, the piece can usually be won. Also compare values: a pawn defending a rook against a queen attack is fine, but a queen defending against a pawn attack is not.
Key points to remember
- Undefended = in danger
- Count attackers vs defenders
- Compare values in exchanges
- Scan for loose pieces after every move
Examples
Show the solution
17... Kxh7 18. Qxd5 Bxd5
Show the solution
63. gxf4 Kd4 64. Nxf5+
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: hanging piece puzzles, trapped piece puzzles.
Homework
15 puzzles a day; in games, touch nothing until you have scanned for loose pieces.
More tactics lessons
- 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)
- Discovered attacks and double check (Class F)