Undermining (chess)

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 kd f7 pd g7 h7
a6 b6 rd c6 d6 pd e6 f6 g6 pd h6
a5 b5 pd c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 bd h5 pd
a4 nd b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 rl b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 pl g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 e2 bl f2 g2 pl h2 pl
a1 b1 kl c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png

Undermining (also known as Removal of the Guard) is a chess tactic in which a defensive piece is captured, leaving one of the opponent's pieces undefended or underdefended. The opponent has the unpalatable choice between recapturing or saving the underdefended piece. When using this tactic, however, one should keep in mind that the opponent can sometimes sacrifice the piece whose defence is being undermined before capturing the piece which just took the defender.

Kramnik-Topalov in the seventh round of the 2004 Linares chess tournament reached the diagrammed position with White to play. The black knight on a4 is defended only by the black pawn on b5. White undermined the knight with 1.Bxb5. The game continued 1... Rxb5, 2.Rxa4, with a net material gain of a pawn for White.

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