Strategy
What is a Prophylaxis in chess?
- Prevention
- Planning
- Defense
A move made mainly to prevent the opponent's plan or tactical idea.
Where the term comes from
From the Greek for 'guarding beforehand'. Nimzowitsch introduced it as a chess concept in My System, arguing that the strongest move is often the one that prevents your opponent's plan rather than advancing your own — an idea Petrosian later turned into a world championship.
Prophylaxis FAQ
What is a prophylaxis in chess?
A move made mainly to prevent the opponent's plan or tactical idea.
Train this pattern on your own games
Reading a definition is not the same as spotting the pattern with a clock running. Chessiro's free game review runs Stockfish 18 over every move you play, names the concept behind each mistake, and turns the positions where it cost you into training puzzles. You can also see the idea in action in the classic games collection, where the greatest players in history demonstrate it.
Related terms
Free game review
See where prophylaxis decides your games
Chessiro reviews your games with an AI coach that names the concept behind every mistake, then drills you on the exact positions where it happened until you stop repeating them.
