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Interference: Cutting the Communications
Interference is a sophisticated tactic where you sacrifice a piece to block the line of communication between two enemy pieces. By "jamming" the connection, you can leave a key piece undefended or cut off a critical escape route. This guide shows you how to spot the geometric intersections where interference moves can win the game.
✂️ Cut insight: Defenders rely on lines of communication. Interference cuts those lines. Learn to spot the "choke points" where a sacrifice can disconnect the enemy army and lead to collapse.
The Concept: Sacrifice a piece between an enemy attacker and its defender (or between two defenders). By blocking the line of sight, you leave one of the enemy pieces defenseless.
Interference Examples
Interference is a tactical idea where a key defensive line is deliberately blocked or disrupted, preventing pieces from protecting each other. By cutting off communication between defenders, interference often allows a follow-up tactic such as a capture, pin, or checkmate. The examples below show common ways interference appears in real games.
1. Final Twist
Nezhmetdinov vs. Kotkov
1. Re8+ Bxe8 (1... Qxe8 2. Qxf6#) 2. Qf8# (2. Qg8#)
The Rook interferes with the Queen's defense of f6.
The Rook interferes with the Queen's defense of f6.
2. The "Rook Splitter"
Stahlberg vs. Persitz
1.Bb8! {if Rfxb8 then 2.Qxb8+ mates, and any other move loses the rook on a8} 1...Raxb8 2.Qxb8
A classic example of placing a piece directly between two defending Rooks.
A classic example of placing a piece directly between two defending Rooks.
3. Blocking the Queen
Ivanovic vs. Popovic
1.h6+ Kh8 2.Be6! wins e.g. 2...d5 3.Qe5+ (or 2...Qxe6 3.Qf8+ Qg8 4.Qf6+ Qg7 5.Qxg7 mate)
4. Saemisch vs. Reindermann
Saemisch vs. Reindermann
1. Re7 Qxe7 (1... Nxe7 2. Qf7#) (1... Ne5 2. Rxe5 $16) 2. Qd5+ Qf7 3.Qxf7#
The Rook move to e7 interferes with the Queen's protection of the 7th rank.
The Rook move to e7 interferes with the Queen's protection of the 7th rank.
5. The Bishop Wedge
Kramnik vs. Topalov
1.Be7 Rb8 {nothing better} 2.Rxe4
Black resigned here because of the continuation: 2...fxe4 3.Bf6#
Black resigned here because of the continuation: 2...fxe4 3.Bf6#
⚡ Chess Tactics Guide
This page is part of the Chess Tactics Guide — Learn chess tactics through core patterns and practical training — from forks, pins, and skewers to discovered attacks, deflection, and mating ideas.
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