Protect checkmate square

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Protect the square where checkmate is threatened

In this level, your opponent is threatening checkmate in one move.

How can you defend against this kind of threat?
There are five main ways to defend against checkmate in one move:

  1. Protect the square where checkmate is threatened.
  2. Capture one of the pieces threatening checkmate.
  3. Escape with the king.
  4. Make an escape square for the king.
  5. Block one of the pieces threatening checkmate.

In this level, you must protect the square where checkmate is threatened.

Examples

White is threatening checkmate with Qg7#.
The only way to defend against the threat is to play Qf8, protecting the checkmate square.

Black is threatening checkmate with Qxg2#.
White has various ways to defend against the threat:
Bd5 would protect the g2 square, but would lose to Nxd5.
g3 would block the queen's path to g2, but would lose an exchange to Bxf1.
Bg5 or Qg4 would also block the queen's path to g2, but Black could just capture the blocking piece and win material.
The only good move is Qf3, protecting g2 without losing material.

White has just captured a knight on f5, which was protecting g7, and is now threatening Qg7#.
Qf4+ would prevent the checkmate, but lose the queen to Bxf4.
Qc3 is the only good move, x-ray protecting g7.

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