Error Management Guide
[Leaving Your Pieces Undefended]

Leaving Your Pieces Undefended

It should be pointed out that there are tactical decisions made, whereby a player will deliberately allow a Piece to be captured, in order to gain advantage elsewhere ...

We're not talking about tactical sacrifices, here.

We're focusing on negligence - moving Pawns and Pieces without considering the consequences - no tactical reasoning; no strategic ploy ... Just pure, absentmindedness in your game play.

If you leave a Piece negligently undefended, it's likely it could be captured WITHOUT your ability to capture back.

... And, without playing for some sort of gain elsewhere; if you allow your opponent to capture a Piece, without reply, you will be reducing the effectiveness of your army.

Just take a look at the potential square coverage you'd be throwing away, if just ONE Piece were to be captured, without reply:

Piece Lost	Maximum Square Coverage Lost *	Optimal Squares **
Knight Bishop Rook Queen	8 13 14 27	c3-c6, d3-d6, e3-e6, f3-f6 d4-d5, e4-e5 all over d4-d5, e4-e5

* These numbers are based on each Piece having a clear, unobstructed view and getting each respective Piece onto a square - ** the Optimal Square - where it can cover the most number of squares, from its position.

Moving On: Not Developing Your Pieces (Page 11).