Clearance sacrifice


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, White utilizes the battery on the a2–g8 diagonal. After 2.Qg8+ Rxg8, White has a classic smothered mate with 3.Nf7#, utilizing the f7-square vacated by the clearance sacrifice.