Flight square

	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 an X.

In chess, a flight square or escape square is a safe square to which a king^[1] or other piece can move if it is threatened. A bishop sometimes begins to get hemmed in after the Morphy Defence is used, and c2–c3 may be used to create an extra escape square.

One way to get a king out of check is to move to a flight square on the next move. The other ways to get out of check are to capture the checking piece or to interpose a piece to block the check. If the checked king has no flight square and there is no other way to get out of check, it is checkmate.

One way to win material from an opponent (i.e., end up with more pieces or more valuable pieces left on the board) is to dominate a piece by removing all of its flight squares (through attacking or occupying them), then threatening to capture it.

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[]

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. Larry., Evans, (2011). New ideas in chess. Cardoza Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58042-274-1. OCLC 646112792.

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