A Decoy is the Tactic to use when you want to get a piece onto a specific square, only it happens to be currently guarded by an enemy piece.
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How it works:
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- 2Play with AI
- 3Play in room
- 4Watch the rooms
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The way to approach it is to have your target in mind; then you need to determine your Decoy move (the Pawn/Piece plus its intended square). It’s also a good idea to clarify your intentions with an overriding objective.
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How it works:
- 1Play alone
- 2Play with AI
- 3Play in room
- 4Watch the rooms
- 5No Ads, Clean Play Room
What you do is launch your assault in TWO stages:
- Send either your main piece, or another piece to a square (this is the Decoy), in the hope of coaxing to it, that enemy guard.
- IF the enemy takes the bait and leaves its guard-spot, then you can implement Stage 2, by sending your waiting piece to its target, whether it be a positional move only; or a specific move that captures material.
Often, to realize your objectives, you may be required to sacrifice a piece, in the build-up to getting to your target … But, if it gives YOU advantage on the board, it’ll be well worth it!
Oh, one caveat to all of this … Getting it all to work, to plan, will sometimes happen due to the skill of your moves … However, more often than not, “lady luck” will play her part in getting your opponent to overlook your real agenda …
The Decoy Tactic
Three examples of the Decoy tactic being used …
The target: Capture Black’s Bf6.
The Decoy move: (After Qe2-f3), Qf3-f5.
The objective: Force Black’s g7-Pawn to step forward, protecting the vulnerable h7-Pawn (and square), but leaving Bf6 free for White’s Queen to capture (Qf5xf6).
The target: Checkmate Black’s King with Nf4-h5, supporting Qxg7#.
The Decoy move: (After Ra1-c1), Rc1xc6
The objective: coax Black’s Queen off the 7th Rank, to enable White’s Queen to get onto g7.
The target: Capture White’s Queen on g5.
The Decoy move: Be7-g5.
The objective: Force White’s trapped Queen to capture on g5. White’s Qg5 and Kg1 are, then, in position for a Royal Fork, from Black’s Ng4-h3+. White’s King has to move, losing White’s Queen (Nh3xg5).