Roadmap > Tactics > Targets > Higher‑value Pieces
Higher-valued pieces, usually the queen or rooks, are good tactical targets because even if they are defended, they can often be threatened by a lower-valued piece.
Example of a Higher-valued Piece
Even though the black rook on d4 is defended by a pawn, it is still a potential target for the white knight, since the knight has a lower relative value.
White to move:
1. Nf5 (gaining a tempo by threatening the higher-valued rook) Rdd8 2. Ne7+ forking the black king and rook.
Even though Black could move the rook to safety, the key idea is that White used the threat as a tempo move — essentially gaining a “free” move on the way to set up a fork.
Tempo moves are a very important part of tactical combinations. Even when a target cannot be won immediately, it can often still be useful. By threatening it, you force your opponent to respond while improving the position of your own pieces or preparing another tactical idea.