Clearance is a sacrificing tactic used when one of your own pieces happens to be in the way of another piece, preventing it from taking up a superior position on the board.
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In order to achieve what you want, the obstructing piece must be moved – or “Cleared” – out of the way.
Play Chess Online - Free Games
How it works:
- 1Play alone
- 2Play with AI
- 3Play in room
- 4Watch the rooms
- 5No Ads, Clean Play Room
To do so will mean to allow capture of that moved piece …
However, the ultimate benefit(s), from your subsequent moves, are well worth the initial loss, as you can see from these example scenarios …
Clearance Sacrifice
Examples of Clearance …
1. Clearance Sacrifice, Example 1
Involves White’s Nb3, as the ‘sacrifice’, to c5.
Black’s d6-Pawn captures, giving Black weak, Doubled Pawns in the process.
The b3-square is ‘cleared’ for White’s Queen to draw the game by Repeated Check.
2. Clearance Sacrifice, Example 2
Involves White’s Rg7, as the ‘sacrifice’, to h7.
Black’s Kh8 is forced to capture.
The move ‘clears’ g7 for White’s Queen to Checkmate Black’s King.
3. Clearance Sacrifice, Example 3
Involves White’s Bc4, as the ‘sacrifice’, to f7.
Black’s Rf8 is forced to capture, as its King is in Check.
The move ‘clears’ c4 for White’s Ne5, a move which totally traps Black’s Qa5.
4. Clearance Sacrifice, Example 4
Involves White’s Qe6, as the ‘sacrifice’, to f5.
Black’s g6-Pawn has little choice but to capture such a powerful piece.
The move ‘clears’ e6 for White’s Ng5, a move which catches all of Black’s remaining Pieces in a Knight Fork.