Tactics: Sacrifice

A sacrifice is a move which deliberately allows the loss of material, either because the player can win material back, have positional compensation, deliver checkmate, or avoid losing.

• Most pieces are capable of various sacrifices, but the king of course can never be sacrificed.

Since there are many different types of sacrifices it will be burdensome to fill your heads with all of them before you understand the overall purpose of each. There are really only 4 primary goals of sacrifices and they are:

1. POSITIONING

2. MATERIAL

3. CHECKMATE

4. DRAW

We're going to discuss each sacrifice based on what it accomplishes so you as the player can have an idea of when and in what situation calls for one. Keep in mind that certain sacrifices may have more than one benefit. So let's dive into the various types of sacrifices. 

1. POSITIONING

One of the goals of a sacrifice is to gain better positioning on the board. It could be better positioning for either development, attacking your opponent, attacking parts of the board, or pursuing an attack on the king. In these cases, the positioned gained is greater than the piece sacrificed. 

A. Gambit sacrifices- In a gambit sacrifice a player gives up a pawn to control the center of the board or to set up an attack on the king. There are many types of opening gambits such as the Queen's, King's, Icelandic, Scotch, & Evans.

B. Strategic sacrifices- Much similar to the gambit ploy but usually appearing much later in a chess game, strategic sacrifices are made to give a player a better positioning of the board or a better position to attack the king. Some examples are bishop sacrifice, attempted queen trap, & multiple sacrifices to pursue king, (Also see the 5 greatest chess sacrifices)

C. Simplification/Liquidation- A player ahead in material may decide that it is worthwhile to exchange pieces with his opponent and use his remaining material and position to win. Example 1, Example 2.

2. MATERIAL

Another goal of sacrificing is simply to gain material. A player may give up a less valuable piece to gain a more valuable piece or they may give up a more valuable piece for 2 or more less valuable pieces. A sacrifice may be made to promote a pawn as well. 

A. Gain material- Gaining material by a sacrifice example 1.
B. Desperado- A piece that seems determined to give itself up to sell itself as dearly as possible in a situation where both sides usually have hanging pieces. Example 1, Example 2.

3. CHECKMATE

One of the best times to sacrifice is when it ensures either an immediate or soon to be checkmate. 

A. Sacrificing to exploit the king- Gaining a victory soon after sacrificing the queen example 1.
(See also the 5 greatest chess sacrifices which highlight how sacrifices can lead to eventual mates.)

4. DRAW

Another good time to sacrifice a piece is to force a draw in a game that otherwise can't be won.

A. Sacrifice to avoid losing- Avoiding a loss by making a sacrifice example 1.
B. Desperado- A piece that seems determined to give itself up to bring about stalemate if it is captured, or in some instances, to force a draw by threefold repetition if it is not captured. Example 1.

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So there you have it. The 4 overall benefits of sacrificing pieces in chess. Below I've started a list of many chess sacrificing terms that are either based on the tactics used or simply unique sacrificing situations. (Feel free to comment on terms that are not listed below, or alternative names for each that I may have overlooked :)


Anti-Castling Sacrifice
Blank Sac (Magnet Sac)
Blocking (Obstruction) Sacrifice
Center Fork Trick
Classic Bishop Sacrifice
Clearance Sacrifice
Decoy Sacrifice
Deflection Sacrifice
Development Sacrifice
Demolition (Destruction) Sacrifice
Double Bishop Sacrifice
Double Sacrifice
En Prise Sacrifice 
Equalizing Sacrifice
Exchange Sacrifice
Gain Sacrifice
Hanging a Piece Sacrifice
King-Hunt Sacrifice
King's Field Sacrifice (Castled)
Lasker's Sacrifice
Line Clearance Sacrifice
Mate Sacrifice
Poisoned Pawn
Positional Sacrifice
Preventative Sacrifice
Queen Sacrifice
Real Sacrifice
Sacrifice of Pawns
Sacrificial Waterfall
Sham (Pseudo) Sacrifice
Speculative Sacrifice
Suicide Sacrifice
Trade Sacrifice
Tempo Sacrifice
Vacating Sacrifice

Tactics: Clearance Sacrifice

In chess, a clearance sacrifice is a tactic that sacrifices one of your pieces to clear the way for an attack by one or more of your other pieces.

Another segment covers sacrifices in general, but since the clearance sacrifice has to do with uncovering your own obstruction it is similar in thought to a discovered attack and perhaps even the opposite of interference. 

• Every piece is capable of a clearance sacrifice except the king. 

The purpose of a successful Clearance Sacrifice is to:

1. Gain a material advantage.

2. Upset your opponent's defenses.

3. Set up a checkmating opportunity.

Below are several diagrams 
illustrating the clearance sacrifice tactic.

A green colored box represents the attacking piece(s)
A blue colored box represents the path of attack
A red colored box represents the target(s) of the attack
A purple colored box represents the clearance sacrifice 

Diagram 1.1

(White's B3 bishop is focused on the F7 square, 
but its own knight on D5 is preventing clearance)

The D5 knight needs to not only move away, but needs to also 
pose a huge threat in order for white's planned attack to work

Diagram 1.2

(White's knight moves to 
F6 threatening the king)

Black only has one option now:
capture the knight with its G7 pawn

Diagram 1.3

(White's knight is sacrificed...)

...But it cleared the path for the B3 bishop to mate 
the king on F7 with assistance by the E5 knight

Tactics: Interference

In chess, interference involves interrupting the line between 2 pieces by inserting (interposing) a piece. The inserted piece must itself represent a threat. Some chess authorities insist that interference requires a sacrifice, but this is not always the case. Moreover the value of the interposed piece is irrelevant if it is not sacrificed for greater material. 

• Almost every piece is capable of interference except the king. In extremely rare circumstances the queen may even be interposed.

The purpose of a successful Interference Tactic is to:

1. Gain a material advantage.

2. Upset your opponent's defenses.

3. Set up a checkmating opportunity.

Below are several diagrams 
illustrating the overloading tactic.

A green colored box represents the interposing/attacking piece
A blue colored box represents the path of attack
A red colored box represents the target(s) of the attack
A purple colored box represents the line interfered with

Diagram 1.1

(Black to move)

White's E2 bishop is pinned and the only 

thing stopping checkmate is white's A6 queen

Diagram 1.2

(Black's bishop interferes with 
white's queenly protection of white's bishop)

If white captures black's B5 bishop with its queen, the queen 

is lost the following turn. If it captures the bishop with its 

A4 pawn then black can proceed with checkmate

Tactics: Decoying

In chess, decoying is a tactic that involves ensnaring a piece, usually the king or queen, by forcing it to move to a poisoned square. While a few chess authorities insist that decoying must require a sacrifice, it technically does not have to.

• Every piece is capable of decoying.

The purpose of a successful Decoying Tactic is to:

1. Gain a material advantage.

2. Upset your opponent's defenses.

3. Set up a checkmating opportunity.

Below are several diagrams 
illustrating the decoying tactic.

A green colored box represents the attacking piece(s)
A blue colored box represents the path of attack
A red colored box represents the target(s) of the attack
A purple colored box represents the poisoned square 

Diagram 1.1

(Black's B5 pawn attacks White's C4 bishop...)

...trying to force it to the poisoned B3 square

Diagram 1.2
(White's reaction)

White moves to the poisoned B3 square!

Diagram 1.3

(But why is the B3 square bad for white's bishop?)

The B3 square is poisoned because white's bishop is loose and 

the D5 knight cannot continue to block it from black's E6 bishop

Diagram 1.4

(The knight can save itself...)

...But unfortunately the B3 bishop is history. And white 

is forced to spend its next turn protecting its D1 rook

Tactics: Deflection

In chess, deflection is a chess tactic that forces an opposing piece to leave the square, rank or file it occupies, thus exposing a valuable piece or the king. The opposing piece does not need to be a guard directly protecting another piece, but can simply be blocking a piece from an attack. In many situations an opponent's piece will become overworked (having multiple defensive assignments) allowing a deflection to occur. A deflection doesn't require a sacrifice, but it is common, especially when a checkmate is involved.

• Every piece is capable of deflection.

The purpose of a successful Deflection Tactic is to:

1. Gain a material advantage.

2. Upset your opponent's defenses.

3. Set up a checkmating opportunity.

Below are several diagrams 
illustrating the deflection tactic.

A green colored box represents the attacking piece(s)
A blue colored box represents the path of attack
A red colored box represents the target(s) of the attack
A purple colored box represents the deflected piece 

Diagram 1.1

(Black to move)

The rook is about to deflect the queen away

 from her C2 post by capturing the B1 rook

Diagram 1.2

(White's reaction)

Since white is in check by black's B1 rook, white's 

queen on C2 must respond with a recapture

Diagram 1.3

(The board after the deflection)

The recapture deflected white's queen away from protecting the 

knight on A4 and leaving it loose for black's C6 queen to capture

Tactics: Undermining (Removal of the Guard)

In chess, undermining is a tactic that involves capturing a defensive piece, leaving one of the opponent's pieces undefended or under defended. Undermining doesn't require a sacrifice for two reasons: 1) The defensive piece captured may be a loose piece not resulting in any recapture, 2) Your opponent may not choose to recapture even if it is possible.

• Every piece is capable of undermining.

The purpose of a successful Undermining Tactic is to:

1. Gain a material advantage.

2. Upset your opponent's defenses.

3. Set up a checkmating opportunity.

Below are several diagrams 
illustrating the undermining tactic.

A green colored box represents the Attacking Piece(s)
A blue colored box represents the Path of Attack
A red colored box represents the Target(s) of the Attack
A purple colored box represents the Undermined piece 

Diagram 1.1

(Black's queen has just captured white's D4 pawn...)

...And black was expecting white's 
queen to recapture black's queen 

Diagram 1.2

(White's response)

White capture's black's C6 knight and check's the 
black's king. Now black has to deal with this threat

Diagram 1.3

(Black captures white's bishop but...)

...now black's queen no longer has protection.

White captures black's undermined queen 

Tactics: Discovered Attack

In chess, a discovered attack is an attack revealed when one piece moves out of the way of another. Discovered attacks can be extremely powerful, as the piece moved can also make a threat independently of the threat it reveals.

• Every piece is capable of a discovered attack.

The purpose of a successful Discovered Attack is to:

1. Gain a material advantage.

2. Gain a Tempo in the game.

Below are several diagrams illustrating 
how the discovered attack works.

A green colored box represents the attacking piece(s)
A blue colored box represents the path of attack
A red colored box represents the target(s) of the attack
A purple colored box represents the piece uncovering the attack

Diagram 1.1

(The board before uncovering the attack)

  If the D5 knight moves it will 
uncover an attack against the queen 

Diagram 1.2

(The board after uncovering the attack)

The D1 rook is now attacking the queen, while the 
knight has created a second threat against the H5 rook. 

Tactics: Skewer (X-ray)

A skewer (x-ray) is sometimes described as a "reverse pin"; the difference is that in a skewer, the more valuable piece is in front of the piece of lesser or equal value. The opponent is compelled to move the more valuable piece to avoid its capture, thereby exposing the less valuable piece which can then be captured

• Only pieces that can move an indefinite number of squares in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line such as bishops, rooks and queens, can skewer opposing pieces. Kings, knights, and pawns cannot skewer.

The purpose of a successful Skewer is to:

1. Gain a material advantage.

Below are several diagrams of 
situations involving the skewer tactic.

A green colored box represents the attacking piece(s)
A blue colored box represents the path of attack
A red colored box represents the target(s) of the attack

Diagram 1

 Bishop skewer against a queen and a rook

 

Tactics: Pin

A pin is a situation brought on by an attacking piece in which a defending piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable defending piece on its other side to capture by the attacking piece.

• Only pieces that can move an indefinite number of squares in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line such as bishops, rooks and queens, can pin opposing pieces. Kings, knights, and pawns cannot pin.

The purpose of a successful Pin is to:

1. Restrict the movement of an opponent's piece.

2. Force an exchange of pieces of equal value.

3. Gain a material advantage.

Below are several diagrams of 
situations involving the pin tactic.

A green colored box represents the attacking piece(s)
A blue colored box represents the path of attack
A red colored box represents the target(s) of the attack

Diagram 1

 Bishop pin against a rook and queen

Is Black Cursed?

 "Black is a slave that is forced into oppression, unless it lashes out skillfully to free itself of tyranny."   ~The Dark Knight

   IS BLACK TRULY CURSED?

 Yes it is absolutely cursed, but it is also very blessed. Simply put, there can be both pros and cons to being black rather than white in chess. For starters for those of you who may not have realized it by now, black is hopeless to win a positional game if both players are equal in playing solely positional chess. You may have heard the terms "tactical" and "positional" being opposites in chess strategy, but let me clarify what is meant by positional. A positional game is a tactical game, but it simply lacks many of the tactics that are often used in chess games. Tactics such as pins, skewers, forks, discovered attacks, and other forms of double attacks will not be seen in a strictly positional game. In a positional game, players will simply be vying for the center and trying to protect their center pieces with more pieces than their opponent. Now the reason why black is cursed to lose in this fight is rather simple: white goes first so white creates the position while black tries to maintain it. In other words, black is always going to wind up the loser because white will always have him out manned, out gunned, and out numbered. So what can be done to fix this injustice? 

Well the first thing that should be done is having the right kind of attitude going into a game with black. It's very easy to become a sore loser and tell yourself that you have a handicap just because you are black. You need to realize that someone has to go first in just about every sport. In football, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc, some team will have the ball first. But does that improve their odds in winning the game? Absolutely not! Instead of thinking that you are doomed, start playing solid defense until the ball is in your possession. In fact, one of the keys to winning a great many chess games is having a solid defense. The first thing a player should do when faced with a defensive decision is to not panic and realize that the game may not be lost. The next thing that the defense needs to do is to hold its ground. You would be surprised how frustrating a game can be for white when black holds its ground just waiting for white to slip up. But it's that kind of attitude and determination that wins games for black more times than not. Also black needs to have an aggressive defense and be looking for ways to throw white off of its positional game. Tactics such as undermining and deflection may accomplish this and give black the edge it needs to take over the game. With so many tactics that can be employed in a game of chess, white is actually limiting itself if it seeks to play just positional tactics. Black may also have an advantage of going after white as well. Since white has to lead, its placement of pieces may alert black of white's next move. Hence black can sometimes anticipate white's moves enough in advance to strategize ways to outsmart white. 

So in conclusion, yes black does have to take the rear seat behind white, but is equally capable of reaching its destination, that is victory lane.