Academy | Tactics | Targets | Important Defenders
When a piece performs an important defensive task, we call it a defender. Because it is protecting something important, the piece itself becomes a target.
In this position, the Black queen helps the king defend the rook on b7; otherwise, White could play Qxb7#. The Black queen is an important defender and therefore becomes a tactical target.
1. Rd8 attacking the important defender Qxd8 2. Qxb7#
You can exploit a defender by attacking it directly, capturing it, or overloading it by taking another piece it was meant to protect.