Clearance_sacrifice

Clearance sacrifice

Clearance sacrifice

Chess tactic

In chess, a clearance sacrifice is a tactical motif which involves a square on the chessboard being vacated to open up lines of attack. The tactic may also result in the substitution of a piece hindering the attack by a piece useful to the attack.

Example of clearance sacrifice
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
c8 black rook
h8 black king
c7 black knight
f7 white rook
g7 black bishop
h7 black pawn
e6 white queen
g6 black pawn
a5 black pawn
g5 white knight
a4 white pawn
b4 black pawn
c4 white bishop
b3 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
d1 white rook
h1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
1.Rf8+ Rxf8 2.Qg8+ Rxg8 3.Nf7#

Example

In the diagram, the clearance sacrifice 1.Rf8+ vacates the f7 square and, after 1...Rxf8 (better than 1...Bxf8 2.Qg8#), White utilizes the battery on the a2–g8 diagonal. After 2.Qg8+ Rxg8 (only move), White has a classic smothered mate with 3.Nf7#, utilizing the f7 square vacated by the clearance sacrifice.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    George Huczek (2017). A to Z Chess Tactics. Batsford. pp. 1–349. ISBN 978-1-8499-4446-5.
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