B&V quick reference

Before every move

Use the three questions in their fixed order. Click each number as you run the scan, then reset for the next move.

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Brecks & Valleys Chess Club · pre-move reference

The pre-move blunder-check card

4 seconds · every move

What did they just threaten?Their last move changed something. Find the new attack, open line, added defender or removed escape square before planning your own move.

Is my piece defended after this move?Picture the landing square. Who protects the piece there, and what has changed after any exchange?

What checks, captures and threats follow?Visualise your candidate move, then examine the opponent’s forcing replies and any newly opened lines.

Visualise the candidate moveSee the board as if your move were already played. Run a pre-move blunder check for checks, captures and threats against you, including newly opened lines. Then move.

Five common causes of material loss

Undefended pieceA piece moved to a square where no friendly piece protects it. An undefended piece is a potential tactical target.

Automatic captureApparently safe material has not been verified. Calculate the complete exchange before capturing.

Discovered attackYour own move opens a line. Glance behind every piece you plan to move.

Moving a pinned pieceA pinned piece has restricted mobility. Check what it may legally move to and which squares it still attacks.

Overloaded defenderOne piece has two essential defensive duties and may be unable to meet both threats.

Four seconds. Every move. No exceptions.

Apply the check to a board

See the danger before you calculate

Use these positions to practise all five common causes of material loss. Complete the three-question check before revealing each explanation.

Visual chess lesson

Undefended-pieces scan

White to move

White to move. How can White exploit the undefended bishop on c5?

c5: Undefended bishopd5: Fork square1.Qd5+2.Qxc5

Reveal the explanation

The bishop on c5 has no defender. White first plays 1.Qd5+, forking the king and bishop. After 1...Kh8, 2.Qxc5 wins the bishop. Recognition identifies the target; calculation verifies how to exploit it.

Verified line: Qd5+ Kh8 Qxc5

The bishop is genuinely undefended and White can exploit it with a verified queen fork.Position: 6k1/8/8/2b5/8/8/8/3Q3K w - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Automatic capture

Black to move

The queen on d2 appears available for a routine exchange. What must Black calculate before capturing it?

d2: Tempting capturef7: In-between checkd1: Delayed recapture1...Qxd22.Bxf7+ first3.Rxd2 later

Reveal the explanation

After 1...Qxd2, White does not have to recapture immediately. The zwischenzug 2.Bxf7+ forces 2...Kxf7, and only then does 3.Rxd2 recover the queen. Calculate checks, captures and threats through the final recapture before taking.

Verified line: Qxd2 Bxf7+ Kxf7 Rxd2

The expected recapture is delayed by a forcing check, showing why the complete exchange must be calculated first.Position: 6k1/5ppp/8/3q4/2B5/8/3Q4/3R2K1 b - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Discovered attack

White to move

Move the knight with a threat while uncovering the bishop's attack on the queen.

f3: Blocking knighta8: Discovered targetc4: Knight's target1.Ne5Uncovered bishop line

Reveal the explanation

1.Ne5 attacks the rook on c4 and clears the h1-a8 diagonal. The bishop on h1 then attacks the queen on a8, so the knight move creates two threats.

Verified line: Ne5

The blocker moves actively and reveals a long-range attack on a material target rather than the king.Position: q5k1/8/8/8/2r5/5N2/8/3Q2KB w - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Absolute pin

White to move

Why can the knight on f7 not legally leave the bishop’s diagonal?

f7: Pinned knightg8: King behind the pinBishop’s line

Reveal the explanation

The knight stands between the bishop on b3 and its own king on g8. Moving it would expose the king to check, so the knight is absolutely pinned.

The b3–g8 diagonal shows an absolute pin against the king.Position: 6k1/5n2/8/8/8/1B6/8/6K1 w - - 0 1

Visual chess lesson

Overloaded defender

White to move

How many essential defensive duties does the queen on d8 perform?

d8: Overloaded queenc7: First defended targete7: Second defended targetFirst defensive dutySecond defensive duty

Reveal the explanation

The queen is the sole defender of both rooks: c7 and e7 lie on its diagonals. If one forcing sequence draws the queen away, the other rook becomes undefended. The diagram shows the geometry; a tactic exists only when White can exploit one duty with tempo.

A defender with two essential duties is potentially overloaded, but the position still requires a forcing move to exploit it.Position: 3q2k1/2r1r3/8/8/8/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1