Prophylaxis (chess)

<h2 id="etymology">Etymology</h2>
<p>The term <i>prophylaxis</i> comes from the <a href="/facts/Greek_language/pzDd6eIz">Greek</a> προφύλαξις, <i>profýlaxis</i>, "guarding or preventing beforehand".
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<h2 id="example">Example</h2>

<p>The diagram shows a common opening known as the <a href="/facts/Sicilian_Defense%2c_Najdorf_Variation/dn74BW9u">Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation</a>, arising after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6. Black's fifth move is a prophylactic move that intends to prevent White from placing a knight or bishop on b5.
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<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/David_Vincent_Hooper/t9VTSeDs">Hooper, David</a>; <a href="/facts/Kenneth_Whyld/jwmoGpzo">Whyld, Kenneth</a> (1996) [First pub. 1992]. <i><a href="/facts/The_Oxford_Companion_to_Chess/X4aMlkw7">The Oxford Companion to Chess</a></i> (2nd ed.). <a href="/facts/Oxford_University_Press/CYyTzzWG">Oxford University Press</a>. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-19-280049-3.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Prophylaxis in Chess: A Quick Guide with Examples & Tips". DecodeChess. Retrieved 18 February 2022. <a href="https://decodechess.com/prophylaxis-in-chess/" target="_blank">https://decodechess.com/prophylaxis-in-chess/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
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Prophylaxis (chess) open-in-new

Prophylaxis (chess)