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Tactics

Interference

Cutting the line between an enemy piece and what it defends by planting a piece in between.

Interference (or obstruction) breaks a defender's connection to the square or piece it guards by interposing a piece on the line between them — even as a sacrifice. Once the line is blocked, the undefended target can be taken.

It's rarer and more surprising than most tactics, which is exactly why it wins games: the defence looks solid until a piece drops into the one square that severs it.

Why it matters

Interference is the tactic that punishes defenders stretched along a line. Recognising it adds a whole class of winning ideas most club players never look for.

The mistake everyone makes

Relying on a single long-range defender to hold two things at once — one well-placed enemy piece on the line can cut it off.

Related terms

Deflection
Forcing an enemy piece away from an important duty so something it was guarding falls.
Overloading
A piece given more defensive jobs than it can perform, so removing or distracting it collapses the defence.
Pin
A piece that cannot move without exposing a more valuable piece behind it.
Tactic
A short, forcing sequence of moves that wins material or delivers mate.

See Interference in your own games

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