Luft

In chess, luft (the German word for "air", sometimes also "space" or "breath") designates the space or square left by a pawn move into which a king (usually a castled one) may then retreat, especially such a space made intentionally to avoid back-rank checkmate. A move leaving such a space is often said to "give the king some luft". The term "luft", "lufting", or "lufted" may also be used (as an English participle) to refer to the movement of the relevant pawn creating luft.[1]

For the surname, see Luft (surname).
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If it is Black's move, he checkmates White with 1...Re1#. If it is White's turn, he must create luft by advancing either his g-pawn or h-pawn. After avoiding checkmate and then capturing the opponent's passed pawn, White should win this game.

Preventing an opponent from lufting a pawn (for example by pinning it or moving a piece to the square in front of it) is a tactic that may lead to checkmate. A king's access to his luft might also be denied by the opponent subjecting the space or square to attack.

The German "luft" is a close cognate to the English "lift", which is also used in chess, e.g., rook lift.

Examples
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In the diagram, "X"s mark luft to which the king can escape back-rank checkmate delivered by the queen. Theoretical enemy knights in the indicated positions deny the king access to his luft. Black dots indicate areas where threats emanating from enemy pieces capable of capturing diagonally could also deny access. The pawn structure seen in Black's position is less secure, but it is a risk commonly accepted to fianchetto.

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Being up a queen, Black will win unless he overlooks the threat of Ng6 (which sets up checkmate via Rh8#). Black wouldn't be able to capture the knight or create luft because his f-pawn is pinned by White's bishop, and his g-pawn cannot advance if a piece is on g6 blockading it. White's king is temporarily safe from check in his luft. (Black can neutralize the threat of Ng6 by playing Qb8, as then Ng6 can be met by the discovered check of Nf5+, winning the checkmate-threatening h4 rook after White reacts.)

See also

References
  1. "Queen Sacrifices" on YouTube (At the 45:26 mark, GM Ben Finegold of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta examines a game lost because the player is unable to luft due to his own pieces blockading his pawns.)
  • Evans, Larry (1958), New Ideas in Chess, Pitman (1984 Dover edition), ISBN 0-486-28305-4
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