Flight square

In chess, a flight square or escape square is a safe square to which a piece, especially a king,^[1] can move if it is threatened.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Flight squares are marked with crosses.

Providing one's piece with flight squares can prevent the opponent from winning material or delivering checkmate. For example, in the Morphy Defence, the white c-pawn may be advanced to provide the light-squared white bishop with a flight square. Conversely, it is possible to take away an enemy piece's flight squares, known as domination.

Luft

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

If it is Black's move, he checkmates White with 1...Re1#. If it is White's turn, he must create luft by advancing either his g-pawn or h-pawn. After avoiding checkmate and then capturing the opponent's passed pawn, White should win this game.

In chess, luft (the German word for "air", sometimes also "space" or "breath") designates the space or square left by a pawn move into which a king (usually a castled one) may then retreat, especially such a space made intentionally to avoid back-rank checkmate.^[2] A move leaving such a space is often said to "give the king some luft". The term "luft", "lufting", or "lufted" may also be used (as an English participle) to refer to the movement of the relevant pawn creating luft.^[3]

Preventing an opponent from lufting a pawn (for example by pinning it or moving a piece to the square in front of it) is a tactic that may lead to checkmate. A king's access to his luft might also be denied by the opponent subjecting the space or square to attack.

The German luft is a close cognate to the English "lift", which is also used in chess, e.g., rook lift.

Examples

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

In the diagram at left, "X"s mark luft to which the king can escape back-rank checkmate delivered by the queen. Theoretical enemy knights in the indicated positions deny the king access to his luft. Black dots indicate areas where threats emanating from enemy pieces capable of capturing diagonally could also deny access. The pawn structure seen in Black's position is less secure, but it is a risk commonly accepted to fianchetto.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Being up a queen in the game on the right, Black will win unless he overlooks the threat of Ng6 (which sets up checkmate via Rh8#). Black wouldn't be able to capture the knight or create luft because his f-pawn is pinned by White's bishop, and his g-pawn cannot advance if a piece is on g6 blockading it. White's king is temporarily safe from check in his luft. (Black can neutralize the threat of Ng6 by playing Qb8, as then Ng6 can be met by the discovered check of Nf5+, winning the checkmate-threatening h4 rook after White reacts.)

See also

• Pawn structure

References

1. Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 141. flight.
2. Larry, Evans (2011). New ideas in chess. Cardoza Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58042-274-1. OCLC 646112792.
3. "Queen Sacrifices" on YouTube (At the 45:26 mark, GM Ben Finegold of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta examines a game lost because the player is unable to luft due to his own pieces blockading his pawns.)

Bibliography

1. Brace, Edward R. (1977), An Illustrated Dictionary of Chess, Hamlyn Publishing Group, ISBN 1-55521-394-4
2. Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996) [First pub. 1992]. The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
3. Evans, Larry (2011). New ideas in chess. Las Vegas, Nev.: Cardoza Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58042-274-1. OCLC 646112792.