Together with the status examination you should not only take a close look at the piece's current square, but also examine the other squares to which it may have to move. If the defender has to recapture on the square of a piece it was defending, you need to examine this square in advance. If you think you can do without, you may end up like Black in <Blau - Donner, Switzerland 1958>.

After

1 ♖d1x♗d6! ♕a6x♖d6 2 f4xe5

Donner ran into a fork by the pawn. The Black queen has no retreat from the e5-square after 2 ... ♕d6xe5 3 ♗e3-f4.

So if you take or recapture a piece you should know how to leave the square you took on (in case you are attacked there).

-- Weteschnik, "Understanding Chess Tactics", page 204, chapter entitled "Status Examination"