View source for Sacrifice (chess)

{{short description|Chess move that offers material gain in exchange for positional advantage}}
{{ Other uses | Sacrifice (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Chess diagram
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| In the [[Philidor Defence#Hanham Variation|Hanham Variation]] of the [[Philidor Defence]], the move 6.Bxf7+ is a bishop sacrifice.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Matanović |editor-first=Aleksandar |editor-link=Aleksandar Matanović |title=[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]] |publisher=[[Chess Informant]] |location=Yugoslavia |volume=C |edition=3rd |year=1997 |page=216, n.51 |quote=6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ng5+ Kg8 8.Ne6 Qe8 9.Nxc7 Qg6 10.0-0 (10.Nxa8? Qxg2 −/+) 10...Rb8 11.dxe5 Nxe5 (11...dxe5 12.f4 =/∞) 12.Kh1 Qh5 13.f3 h6 14.Qd4 Nc6 15.Qd3 Qa5 16.N7d5 =/∞ S. Mirkovic |isbn=86-7297-035-7 }}</ref>
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In [[chess]], a '''sacrifice''' is a move that gives up a [[Chess piece|piece]] with the objective of gaining tactical or positional [[compensation (chess)|compensation]] in other forms. A sacrifice could also be a deliberate [[Exchange (chess)|exchange]] of a chess piece of higher value for an opponent's piece of lower value.

Any chess piece except the [[king (chess)|king]] may be sacrificed. Because players usually try to hold on to their own pieces, offering a sacrifice can come as an unpleasant surprise to one's opponent, putting them off balance and causing them to waste precious time trying to calculate whether the sacrifice is sound or not, and whether to accept it. Sacrificing one's [[queen (chess)|queen]] (the most valuable piece), or a string of pieces, adds to the surprise, and such games can be awarded {{chessgloss|brilliancy prize|brilliancy prizes}}.<ref name='BP1'>{{cite web | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E14F73E541B7B93C3A8178FD85F4C8685F9 | title = Chess:; A 23-Move Bind Winds Up With Brilliant Queen Sacrifice | access-date = 2011-03-07 | last = Horowitz | first = Al | date = 28 December 1967 | work = [[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
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== Types of sacrifice ==

=== Real versus sham ===
[[Rudolf Spielmann]] proposed a division between sham and real sacrifices:
* In a ''real sacrifice'', the sacrificing player will often have to play on with less {{chessgloss|material}} than their opponent for quite some time.
* In a ''sham sacrifice'', the player offering the sacrifice will soon regain material of the same or greater value, or else force mate.  A sham sacrifice of this latter type is sometimes known as a pseudo sacrifice.<ref>Rudolf Spielman, "The Art of Sacrifice in Chess", 1995, Dover, {{ISBN|0-486-28449-2}}</ref>

In compensation for a real sacrifice, the player receives dynamic, positional, or other non-material advantages which they must capitalize on, or risk losing the game due to the material deficit.  Because of the risk involved, real sacrifices are also called ''speculative sacrifices''.

==== Real sacrifices {{anchor|real sacrifice}} ====
;Attack on the king
: A player might sacrifice a pawn or piece to get open lines around the vicinity of the opponent's king, to get a {{chessgloss|kingside}} {{chessgloss|space}} advantage, to destroy or damage the opposing king's pawn cover, or to keep the opposing king in the {{chessgloss|center}}.  Unless the opponent manages to fend off the attack, they are likely to lose. The [[Greek gift sacrifice]] is a canonical example.

;Development
: It is common to give up a pawn in the [[opening (chess)|opening]] to speed up one's development. [[Gambit]]s typically fall into this category. Developing sacrifices are frequently returned at some point by the opponent before the development edge can turn into a more substantial threat such as a kingside attack.

;Strategic/positional
: In a general sense, the aim of all real sacrifices is to obtain a positional advantage. However, there are some speculative sacrifices where the compensation is unrelated to an ensuing attack and may come instead in the form of an open file or diagonal, a weakness in the opponent's [[pawn structure]], a [[Glossary of chess#blockade|blockade]], or some other positional asset. These are the hardest sacrifices to make, requiring deep [[chess strategy|strategic]] understanding.

==== Sham sacrifices {{anchor|sham sacrifice}} ====
;Checkmate
: A common benefit of making a sacrifice is to allow the sacrificing player to [[checkmate]] the opponent. Since checkmate is the ultimate goal of chess, the loss of material (see [[Chess piece relative value]]) does not matter in a successful checkmating attack. Sacrifices leading to checkmate are typically ''forcing'', and often [[check (chess)|check]]s, leaving the opponent with only one or a few options.

;Avoiding loss
: The counterpart to the above is saving a lost game. A sacrifice could be made to force [[stalemate]] or [[perpetual check]], to create a [[fortress (chess)|fortress]], or otherwise force a [[draw (chess)|draw]], or to avoid even greater loss of material.

;Material gain
: A sacrifice might initiate a combination that results in an overall material gain, making the upfront investment of the sacrifice worthwhile. A sacrifice leading to a pawn [[promotion (chess)|promotion]] is a special case of this type of sacrifice.

;Simplification
: Even if the sacrifice leads to net material loss for the foreseeable future, the sacrificing player may benefit because they are already ahead in material and the exchanges simplify the position making it easier to win. A player ahead in material may decide that it is worthwhile to get rid of one of the last effective pieces the opponent has.

The tactical sham sacrifices can be categorized further by the mechanism by which the sacrifice is made. Some sacrifices may fall into more than one category.<ref>This classification scheme was presented by Hans Olav Lahlum in a series of articles in ''Norsk Sjakkblad'', [http://sjakk.no/nsf/norsk_sjakkblad/06_nr2.pdf no. 2 2006] (p. 44), [http://sjakk.no/nsf/norsk_sjakkblad/06_nr3.pdf no. 3 2006] (p. 44), [http://sjakk.no/nsf/norsk_sjakkblad/06_nr4.pdf no. 4 2006] (p. 44), [http://sjakk.no/nsf/norsk_sjakkblad/06_nr5.pdf no. 5 2006] (p. 35), and [http://sjakk.no/nsf/norsk_sjakkblad/06_nr6.pdf no. 6 2006] (p. 31) {{in lang|no}}</ref>
* In a ''deflection sacrifice'', the aim is to distract one of the opponent's pieces from a square where it is performing a particular duty.
* In a ''destruction sacrifice'', a piece is sacrificed in order to knock away a materially inferior—but tactically more crucial piece—so that the sacrificing player can gain control over the squares the taken chessman controlled.
* A ''magnet sacrifice'' is similar to a deflection sacrifice, but the motivation behind a magnet sacrifice is to pull an opponent's piece to a tactically poor square, rather than pulling it away from a crucial square.
* In a ''[[clearance sacrifice]]'', the sacrificing player aims to vacate the square the sacrificed piece stood on, either to open up lines for his own pieces, or to put another, more useful piece on the same square.
* In a ''[[tempo (chess)|tempo]] sacrifice'', the sacrificing player abstains from spending time to prevent the opponent from winning material because the time saved can be used for something even more beneficial, for example pursuing an attack on the king or guiding a passed pawn towards promotion.
* In a ''suicide sacrifice'', the sacrificing player aims to rid themselves of the remaining pieces capable of performing legal moves, and thereby obtain a [[stalemate]] and a draw from a poor position.

=== Other types of sacrifices ===

==== Forced versus non-forced ====
Another way to classify sacrifices is to distinguish between ''forcing'' and ''non-forcing'' sacrifices. The former type leave the opponent with no option but acceptance, typically because not doing so would leave them behind in material with no compensation. Non-forcing sacrifices, on the other hand, give the opponent a choice. A common error is to not recognize when a particular sacrifice can be safely declined with no ill-effects.
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==Examples==

===Deflection sacrifice===
{{Chess diagram
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| [[Levon Aronian|Aronian]] vs. [[Peter Svidler|Svidler]], 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1434844 |title=Levon Aronian vs. Peter Svidler, Tal Memorial (2006), Moscow |website=[[ChessGames.com]] |access-date=8 August 2010 }}</ref>
|  |  |rd|  |rd|  |kd|  
|  |pd|  |  |  |pd|bd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |pd|  
|pd|  |  |  |  |  |bl|  
|pl|  |qd|pl|  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |ql|  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|  |  |rl|  |  |kl|  
| Position after 24.exd4??
}}
<br />In the diagram, GM Aronian has mistakenly played '''24. exd4{{chesspunc|??}}''', opening up the e-file for Black's rook. After Svidler played '''24... Re1+{{chesspunc|!}}''', Aronian resigned, because Black's move forces the reply 25.Rxe1 (or 25.Qf1 Qxf1{{chessAN|#}}), after which White's queen is undefended and therefore lost.

This particular type of sacrifice has also been called the "Hook and Ladder trick", for the white queen is precariously at the top of the "ladder", while the rook is at the bottom, supporting it.<ref>[http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/magazine_124_313.php The Hook & Ladder Trick] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823041027/http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/magazine_124_313.php |date=23 August 2007 }} ''Chess Life'' Dana Mackenzie</ref>
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===Suicide sacrifice===
{{Chess diagram
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| [[Larry Evans (chess grandmaster)|Evans]] vs. [[Samuel Reshevsky|Reshevsky]], 1963<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1252040 |title=Evans vs. Reshevsky, US Championship (1963/64), New York, NY |website=[[Chessgames.com]] }}</ref>
|  |  |ql|  |  |  |  |  
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| Black to move
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<br />Black played '''1... Qxg3{{chesspunc|?}}''' and White drew with '''2. Qg8+! Kxg8''' (on any other move Black will get mated) '''3. Rxg7+!'''. White intends to keep checking on the seventh {{chessgloss|rank}}, and if Black ever captures the rook it is stalemate.

This save from Evans has been dubbed "The [[Swindle (chess)|Swindle]] of the Century".<ref>[http://www.michess.org/webzine_199907/okeefe.shtml Stalemate!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618041831/http://www.michess.org/webzine_199907/okeefe.shtml |date=18 June 2008 }} Jack O’Keefe, Michigan Chess Association.</ref> White's rook is known as a [[desperado (chess)|desperado]].
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===Non-forcing sacrifice===
{{Chess diagram
| tleft
| [[Miguel Najdorf|Najdorf]] vs. [[Samuel Reshevsky|Reshevsky]], 1952<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1101209 |title=Miguel Najdorf vs. Samuel Reshevsky, New York, NY (1952) |website=[[Chessgames.com]] }}</ref>
|rd|  |bd|qd|  |rd|kd|  
|  |pd|  |nd|bd|pd|pd|  
|  |  |  |pd|pd|nd|  |pd
|pd|pl|  |  |  |  |nl|  
|  |  |pl|  |  |  |  |pl
|pl|  |nl|  |pl|  |  |  
|  |bl|ql|  |bl|pl|pl|  
|rl|  |  |  |kl|  |  |rl
| Position after 13...h6 14.h4
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<br />This time Reshevsky is at the receiving end of a sacrifice. White has just played h2–h4. If Black takes the knight he has to give up his own knight on f6 to avoid mate on h7. Instead, he simply ignored the bait and continued developing.
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===Positional sacrifice===
{{Chess diagram
| tleft
| [[Boris Spassky|Spassky]] vs. [[Mikhail Tal|Tal]], 1971<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1128868 |title=Boris Spassky vs. Mikhail Tal, Moscow (1971) |website=[[Chessgames.com]] }}</ref>
|rd|  |  |qd|  |rd|kd|  
|pd|bd|  |  |bd|pd|pd|pd
|  |pd|  |  |pd|nd|  |  
|  |  |  |pd|pl|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |pl|  |  
|pl|  |nl|pl|bl|nl|  |  
|  |pl|  |  |  |  |pl|pl
|rl|  |  |ql|  |rl|  |kl
| Black played 14...d4
}}
<br />In this game Black played '''14... d4! 15. Nxd4 Nd5'''. In exchange for the sacrificed pawn, Black has obtained a [[Half-open file|semi-open file]], a diagonal, an [[outpost (chess)|outpost]] on d5 and saddled White with a [[backward pawn]] on d3. The game was eventually drawn.
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===Sacrifice to checkmate===
{{Chess diagram
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|rd|  |bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|  |  |  |nd|pd|  |pd|pd
|  |  |pd|  |  |pd|  |  
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| White to move 
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The following example features a forced bishop sacrifice by White.  White can force mate in two moves in the diagram at left as follows: '''{{nowrap|1. Bg6+}}! hxg6 2. Qxg6{{chessAN|#}}'''
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===Queen sacrifice leads to smothered mate===
{{Chess diagram
| tleft
|[[James McConnell (chess)|McConnell]] vs. [[Paul Morphy|Morphy]], 1849<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1075508 |title=James McConnell vs. Paul Morphy, New Orleans, LA (1849) |website=[[Chessgames.com]] |access-date=1 February 2012 }}</ref>
|rd|  |  |  |  |rd|kd|  
|pd|  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |qd|  |  |bd|  |  |pd
|  |  |  |pd|  |pd|pd|  
|  |  |pl|  |  |pd|  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |nd
|pl|pl|ql|nl|  |  |pl|pl
|rl|  |bl|  |  |rl|  |kl
| Black to move
}}
<br />In this position, Black moves '''22... Qg1+!'''  forcing the white rook to take black's queen by '''23. Rxg1'''; the king cannot take the queen because it would have been in check from the knight on h3.  Having forced the rook out of a position where it was defending the f-file and into a position where it blocked the king from making any move, the black knight delivers a [[smothered mate]] by '''23... Nf2#'''.  
{{clear}}

===Philidor sacrifice===
{{Chess diagram  
 |tleft
 |
 |rd|nd|bd|qd|  |bd|  |rd
 |pd|pd|pd|  |  |kd|pd|pd
 |  |  |  |pd|  |nd|  |  
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
 |  |  |  |  |pl|  |  |  
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
 |pl|pl|pl|pl|  |pl|pl|pl
 |rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|  |rl
 |Position after 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 in Petrov's Defense
}}
<br />A ''Philidor sacrifice'', recommended and practiced by [[François-André Danican Philidor|Philidor]], is the sacrifice of a {{chessgloss|minor piece}} for one or two pawns for greater pawn mobility as compensation.<ref>Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 305. ''Philidor sacrifice''.</ref> An example of this real, strategic/positional sacrifice can occur in [[Petrov's Defense]] after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 where White elects 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 ({{em|diagram}}). Another openings example is the [[Halloween Gambit]].
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==See also==
* [[Chess tactics]]
* [[Desperado (chess)|Desperado]]
* [[The exchange (chess)#The exchange sacrifice|Exchange sacrifice]]
* [[Queen sacrifice]]
* [[Immortal Game]]
* [[The Game of the Century (chess)|The Game of the Century]]
* {{section link|Dragoljub Minić#Planinc vs. Minić, 1973|nopage=y}} – a game that shows the sacrifice of a rook for a tempo

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* [[Andrew Soltis]]. ''The Art of Defense in Chess''. McKay Chess Library, 1975. {{ISBN|0-679-14108-1}}.
* [[Leonid Shamkovich]]. ''The Modern Chess Sacrifice''. Tartan Books, 1978. {{ISBN|0-679-14103-0}}.
* [[Israel Gelfer]]. ''Positional Chess Handbook''. B. T. Batsford Ltd., 1991. {{ISBN|0-7134-6395-3}}.

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