Strategy · Think ahead

Not so fast

Chess players call it prophylaxis. Off the board, asking what the other side wants becomes a habit only if you practise it there too, as this week’s task asks.

On the board, Black sees what White wants. Bxh7+ would uncover the rook on the queen. Black does not wait for it. ...Qe7 takes the queen off the line first, and the threat is gone before it starts.