Prevent their plan.
Stay active while defending.

Use prophylaxis to stop an opponent’s best idea before it becomes forcing. When attacked, compare direct defense, simplification, counterattack, and changing the character of the position.

• Ask what the opponent would play if they had another move.
• Remove the cause of a threat when possible, not only its symptom.
• Create luft, trade key attackers, return material, or seek counterplay when the king is under pressure.