If the king keeps the enemy -queen- or -rook- out of an adjacent square, then it cannot perform any other tasks.

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White to play: 29 ?

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Black's previous move was 28 ... ♖d5xb5??, grabbing a useless pawn on the queenside.

Black overlooks two critical tactical points pertaining to his <KING SAFETY>:

1) Black g7-king is <STALEMATED>

2) <TWO LOOSE SQUARES NEAR HIS KING>: the h8-square is attacked by the White c8-rook and the h6-square is attacked by the White e3-bishop and -both- of these squares are <DEFENDED> -only- by the Black g7-king. But since -one- piece cannot <DEFEND> -two- squares (in general), this tactical situation suggests that the Black g7-king is <OVERWORKED> and can be <DEFLECTED>.

White does not miss his chance, meeting the blunder 28 ... ♖d5xb5?? with 29 ♗e3xh6+!,

Position after 29 ♗e3xh6+! 1-0

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forcing Black's immediate resignation due to the forced mate 29 ♗e3xh6+! ♔g7x♗h6 <deflection from h8> 30 ♖c8-h8+ ♔h6-g7 31 ♕c2-h7#.

(VAR) 29 ♗e3xh6+! ♔g7x♗h6 30 ♖c8-h8+ ♔h6-g7 31 ♕c2-h7#

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This puzzle is also a great illustration of the power of the <LINE PIECES ♕♖♗> when they are on <OPEN LINES> (files, diagonals, and ranks). Not one of the White c8-rook, c2-queen, or e3-bishop is -anywhere- near the Black g7-king, yet they are able to perform a mate in 3 because they have <OPEN LINES> to the Black king.

A big win for Jorge Sammur-Hasbun (White) on his way to retaining his Dos Hermanas ICC internet blitz title in 2008.

Event "FI32"
Site "Internet Chess Club"
Date "2008.04.05"
Round "15"
White "NECF-InSchools"
Black "Indiana-Jones"
Result "1-0"
ICCResult "Black resigns"
WhiteElo "3196"
BlackElo "3094"
Opening "English: symmetrical, hedgehog system" ECO "A34"
NIC "EO.40"
Time "17:12:10"
TimeControl "180+0"

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Qe2 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. d4 Ba6 11. Nb5 Nc6 12. a4 cxd4 13. exd4 Rc8 14. Rd1 Bf6 15. h4 h6 16. Ne5 Qe7 17. Ng4 Rfd8 18. Be3 Qb4 19. Bxd5 Rxd5 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Rac1 Kh7 22. Rc4 Qb3 23. Rdc1 Ne7 24. R1c3 Bxb5 25. axb5 Qa2 26. Qc2+ Kg7 27. Rxc8 Nxc8 28. Rxc8 Rxb5 29. Bxh6+ 1-0

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<KING DEFLECTION: 17 ... Rf8xf3+!! 18 Kg3xRf3 <deflection from h4> Qd8-h4>

This <KING DEFLECTION/DISTRACTION> that was overlooked(!) by the great tactician Nakamura is based on the -two- <LOOSE SQUARES> near the White g3-king, the f3- and h4-squares.

In the brilliant game Polgar vs J Fernandez Garcia, 2003, Polgar's 24 ♖d1-d7!! is based on the -two- <LOOSE SQUARES> near the Black c8-king, the b7- and d7-squares.

Event "ICC 3 0"
Site "Internet Chess Club"
Date "2008.02.07"
Round "-"
White "pendex2008"
Black "Smallville"
Result "0-1"
ICCResult "White resigns"
WhiteElo "3090"
BlackElo "3272"
Opening "French: Tarrasch, closed variation"
ECO "C05"
NIC "FR.16"
Time "22:51:56"
TimeControl "180+0"

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Ndf3 Nc6 7. c3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Kf2 f6 10. Bd3 fxe5 11. fxe5 O-O 12. Ne2 Ndxe5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bf4 Bc5+ 15. Kg3 Nxf3 16. gxf3 e5 17. Bd2 Qf6 18. Rf1 e4 19. fxe4 Qg6+ 0-1