In short: What you get back for material you have given up on purpose, or for a weakness you have taken on: development, an attack, open lines or better pieces.
Also called comp.
Nobody gives away material for nothing. A player who sacrifices a pawn, or the exchange, does it to get something else back. What you get is called compensation, and chess players often just say comp: "Black has comp for the pawn."
What can the compensation be?
- Development and time. More pieces in play, or moves your opponent has to spend taking and holding on to the material.
- An attack. Open lines toward the opponent's king.
- Lines and squares. A half-open file for the rooks or a strong square for a knight.
- Weaknesses in the opponent's camp. Pawns that have become weak, or a king that can't castle.
The Marshall Attack
In New York in 1918, Frank Marshall sacrificed a pawn against José Raúl Capablanca to get an attack on the white king.
Capablanca found the defense and won, but the gambit lived on and is still played. That says something about compensation: it can be fully enough, even when it wasn't enough in one particular game. See the game: Capablanca–Marshall 1918.
Compensation for a weakness
You can also get compensation for something other than material. A player who accepts doubled pawns often gets a half-open file, or the bishop pair. A player with an isolated pawn often gets free play for the pieces.
Is it enough? The hard question is always whether the compensation makes up for what you gave. Time and an attack vanish if they aren't used, but an extra pawn stays. Read about advantage and the exchange sacrifice.
Frequently asked questions
What does “comp for the pawn” mean?
That the side a pawn down has got something else in return, roughly enough to make up for the pawn.
Can you get compensation for something other than material?
Yes. A player who takes on doubled pawns or an isolated pawn on purpose can get open lines or the bishop pair in return.
Updated November 14, 2026