A vertical stretch play is the perfect example of why football is sometimes compared to a chess match. In it, the offense stretches the field with the hopes of convincing the defense to play further back from the line of scrimmage (they’ll assume you’re going for a long pass) so you can sneak a short pass underneath the linebackers to gain yardage.  A quarterback can either throw to the intermediate or closest receiver depending on where the linebackers are as the play unfolds. Of course, as in a chess match, your opponent generally knows when you’re going to try this type of play and can adjust accordingly, but it’s the mental back and forth of the game that makes it so much fun to watch.