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Ponderchess / Glossary

Sacrifice in chess

A sacrifice is a deliberate gift of material in return for something else: a mating attack, a forced win of more material, a lasting initiative or a positional gain. It differs from a blunder because the player intends the loss and has a concrete reason for it.

White to move. This is a classic Greek gift setting. After Bxh7+ Kxh7 Ng5+ Kg8 Qh5, White threatens Qh7 mate, and Black's best is to give back material with ...Qxg5 Bxg5, so White has given two minor pieces for the queen and a pawn and is well ahead. Retreating with ...Kh8 instead allows Qh5+ and Qh7 mate.1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Ng5+ Kg8 3.Qh5

Types of sacrifice

Some sacrifices can be calculated to the end: the material comes back with interest, or the line ends in mate. These are sometimes called sham sacrifices, because nothing is really given away. Others are true sacrifices, where the compensation is long-term, such as a strong attack, better development, a weak enemy king or a dominant piece, and the outcome depends on judgement rather than calculation.

By material, the common kinds are pawn sacrifices, as in gambits; exchange sacrifices, where a rook is given for a bishop or knight; piece sacrifices; and queen sacrifices, which are usually part of a forced mate.

The Greek gift

The best-known attacking sacrifice is Bxh7+ against a castled king, known as the Greek gift. The usual follow-up is Ng5+ and Qh5, bringing the knight and queen against h7. It works best when White has a bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal, a knight that can reach g5 and a queen that can reach h5, a pawn on e5 keeping a black knight away from f6, and Black has no easy way to capture on g5 or defend h7.

If any of these pieces is missing, the sacrifice may simply lose a bishop, so it has to be checked against each king move: ...Kg8, ...Kg6 and ...Kh6 each need an answer.

How to judge a sacrifice

Count the attackers and defenders near the target, list every forcing reply, and ask what you are left with if the attack runs out. A sacrifice that only creates threats the opponent can parry with tempo is usually a loss of material, not an investment.

Common mistakes

  • Playing Bxh7+ without a knight and queen ready to follow up.
  • Sacrificing for an attack without checking every defensive reply, especially counter-sacrifices that return material.

Questions about sacrifice

What is the difference between a sacrifice and a blunder?

Intention and return. A sacrifice gives up material on purpose for something concrete; a blunder loses material by oversight.

What is the Greek gift sacrifice?

The bishop sacrifice Bxh7+ (or ...Bxh2+ for Black) against a castled king, usually followed by a knight check on g5 and the queen coming to h5.

What is an exchange sacrifice?

Giving a rook for a bishop or knight, usually to damage the opponent's structure, win a key square or keep a strong minor piece.

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