# Prophylaxis (chess)

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{{Short description|Series of moves done by a player to prevent their opponent from taking some action}}
{{More footnotes|date=March 2010}}
In [chess](/source/chess), '''prophylaxis'''  consists of a move or series of moves done by a player to prevent their opponent from taking some action. Such preventive moves, or ''prophylactic moves'', aim not only to improve one's position but also to restrict the opponent in improving their own.

Many standard and widespread opening moves can be considered prophylactic. One common prophylactic idea is the advance of the {{chessgloss|rook pawn}} near a [castled](/source/Castling) king, which can be done to provide a [luft](/source/Flight_square) and/or to prevent a [pin](/source/Pin_(chess)), such as playing a6 or h6. Another is to transfer one's king to the b-file after castling queenside so as to protect an unmoved a-pawn, among other purposes, namely Kb1/Kb8.

Prophylaxis is a distinctive feature of {{chessgloss|positional play}}, often preventing opponents from entering risky, double-edged lines, as well as punishing opponents who play too aggressively. Using prophylaxis is an essential skill at advanced levels of play. Famous practitioners of prophylactic play include [Aron Nimzowitsch](/source/Aron_Nimzowitsch), [Tigran Petrosian](/source/Tigran_Petrosian), and [Anatoly Karpov](/source/Anatoly_Karpov); even {{chessgloss|tactical play|tactical}} players, such as [Mikhail Tal](/source/Mikhail_Tal) and [Garry Kasparov](/source/Garry_Kasparov), make use of prophylaxis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prophylaxis in Chess: A Quick Guide with Examples & Tips |url=https://decodechess.com/prophylaxis-in-chess/ |website=DecodeChess |access-date=18 February 2022 |ref=1}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The term ''prophylaxis'' comes from the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) προφύλαξις, ''profýlaxis'', "guarding or preventing beforehand".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prophylaxis - Etymology, Origin & Meaning |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/prophylaxis |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=etymonline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Example==
{{Chess diagram
| floatright
| 

|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|  |rd
|  |pd|  |  |pd|pd|pd|pd
|pd|  |  |pd|  |nd|  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |nl|pl|  |  |  
|  |  |nl|  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|  |  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|  |bl|ql|kl|bl|  |rl

| Position after 5...a6
}}

The diagram shows a common opening known as the [Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation](/source/Sicilian_Defense%2C_Najdorf_Variation), 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sicilian Defense: Open, Najdorf Variation - Chess Openings |url=https://www.chess.com/openings/Sicilian-Defense-Open-Najdorf-Variation |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book
 |last1=Hooper 
 |first1=David  
 |author-link1=David Vincent Hooper
 |last2=Whyld 
 |first2=Kenneth 
 |author-link2=Kenneth Whyld
 |title=[The Oxford Companion to Chess](/source/The_Oxford_Companion_to_Chess)
 |publisher=[Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press)
 |edition=2nd
 |year=1996
 |orig-year=First pub. 1992
 |isbn=0-19-280049-3 }}

{{Chess}}
Category:Chess terminology
Category:Chess strategy

[pt:Anexo:Glossário de enxadrismo#Profilaxia](/source/pt%3AAnexo%3AGloss%C3%A1rio_de_enxadrismo)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Prophylaxis (chess)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophylaxis_(chess)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophylaxis_(chess)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.