Clearance sacrifice

Last updated
Example of clearance sacrifice
abcdefgh
8
Chessboard480.svg
Chess rdt45.svg
Chess rdt45.svg
Chess kdt45.svg
Chess ndt45.svg
Chess rlt45.svg
Chess bdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess qlt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess nlt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess pdt45.svg
Chess blt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess plt45.svg
Chess rlt45.svg
Chess klt45.svg
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77
66
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abcdefgh
1.Rf8+ Rxf8 2.Qg8+ Rxg8 3.Nf7#

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

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