Attraction (chess)
In chess, attraction is a tactical motif, typically involving a sacrifice that lures or decoys an opposing piece, often the king, to a square where its new position can be exploited by a tactic favoring the attacker. This tactic is also referred to in chess literature as a decoying sacrifice.
Examples
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |         | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
In the diagram, after the moves 1.Rf8+ Kxf8 (forced) 2.Nd7+ Ke7 3.Nxb6, White wins the queen and the game. A similar, but more complex position is described by Huczek.[1]
The second diagram shows a position from Vidmar–Euwe, Carlsbad 1929. Black had just played 33…Qf4, threatening mate on h2. White now uncorks the elegant combination 34.Re8+ Bf8 (forced) 35.Rxf8+ (attraction) Kxf8 (forced) 36.Nf5+ (discovered check) Kg8 (36…Ke8 37.Qe7#) 37.Qf8+ (attraction) 1–0 Black resigns. (If 37…Kxf8 then 38.Rd8#.) The combination after 33…Qf4 features two separate examples of the attraction motif.[2]
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |    | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moves | 61…Rh1+ 62.Kxh1 Nxg3+ 63.Kh2 Nxh5 64.Resigns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO | B80-B89 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Sicilian defense (Open), Scheveningen, Classical Variation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The third diagram on the right shows a position from the game Dementiev-Dzindzichashvili, URS 1972. White had just played 61.g6 (with the threat 62.Qh7+ Kf8 63.Rxf5+). However, Black continued with the crushing 61…Rh1+ (attraction) 62. Kxh1(best) Nxg3+ (the White rook is pinned) 63.Kh2 Nxh5 (and White has dropped his queen to the knight fork). In the game White resigned after 61…Rh1+.[3]
References
- George Huczek (2017). A to Z Chess Tactics. Batsford. pp. 1–349. ISBN 978-1-8499-4446-5.
- "Master Games". Chess.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- chess.com. "'Master Games'". chess.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.