chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to disti ...

, a clearance sacrifice is a

tactical Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to: * Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks ** Military tactics, the disposition and maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield ** Chess tactics ** Political tacti ...

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 Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

on the a2–g8 diagonal. After 2.Qg8+ Rxg8 (only move), White has a classic

smothered mate In chess, a smothered mate is a checkmate delivered by a knight in which the mated king is unable to move because it is completely surrounded (or ''smothered'') by its own pieces. The mate is usually seen in a corner of the board, since fewer pie ...

with 3.Nf7#, utilizing the f7 square vacated by the clearance sacrifice.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clearance sacrifice Chess tactics