Prophylaxis is a move that stops what your opponent wants to do before they can do it, instead of answering it afterwards.
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Start0/1
Stopping an idea usually takes one move. Letting it happen and then dealing with it often takes several, and may cost a concession. That is why a quiet move that prevents something is often stronger than an active one.
How to do it
- 1Before you choose a move, ask what your opponent would play if it were their turn.
- 2If that move would be annoying, look for a way to prevent it.
- 3Prefer a preventive move that also improves one of your pieces.
For your level
The best prophylaxis is against plans, not single moves. Taking a square the opponent's pieces need often matters more than parrying one threat.
Common mistakes
- Defending against threats that do not exist while the opponent improves.
- Thinking only about your own plan and noticing the opponent's after it happens.
Questions
- Is prophylaxis passive?
- No. Passive play waits for threats and answers them. Prophylaxis removes them in advance, which saves the moves you would otherwise spend defending.