Overprotection

A term introduced into theory by Nimzowitsch. Overprotection means defending an important point in your position with a surplus — more defending pieces than the opponent has attacking ones — which frees your hands for operations elsewhere on the board.

Overprotect only strong points, since overprotecting less important ones can leave the defending pieces passive. Weak points are worth overprotecting only when doing so also helps defend other, stronger points.

The term "overprotection" is contested — most other works and studies make no use of it.