Decoy (chess)

In chess, a decoy is a tactic that involves forcing an opponent's piece to move to a square where it will be overloaded, exposed, or blockaded, often resulting in a tactical advantage, such as a material gain or checkmate. The decoyed piece is typically more valuable than the piece used for the decoy sacrifice, or the decoy exposes a more valuable piece to attack.

The effectiveness of a decoy tactic relies on the opponent's piece being drawn away from its defensive duties or into a vulnerable position. The "decoy" piece is, in effect, lured to a less desirable square. This lure may involve a sacrifice (real or threatened) of a piece.

Decoys are frequently employed in combination with other tactical motifs, such as pins, skewers, forks, and discovered attacks. Successfully executing a decoy often requires precise calculation and foresight to ensure the opponent is compelled to capture the decoy piece.