Day 3 · 12 min · Free forever
Before you capture
- Link captures to hanging your own piece
- Pause on every take
Captures are where hanging pieces hide. You take something — and leave a piece undefended behind the capture.
Rule: before you capture, ask what hangs on your side after the capture lands.
If the answer is 'my knight on c3', either defend it in the same idea or choose a different capture.
Habit rule · Before you capture, check what hangs on your side.
Practice position
r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 4 4
A common Italian idea pressures f7 — but only if your pieces stay coordinated.
Side to move: White. Solution teaching line: Ng5
Aggressive ideas still require your own pieces to stay protected.
Knowledge check
What question do you ask before capturing?