Two pieces under attack
Sometimes a piece from each side is under attack at the same time. The natural thing is to save your own piece, or to capture your opponent's. But the player to move often has a third choice: let the threatened piece capture something first, preferably with check. It is lost anyway, after all.
A piece like that is called a desperado. It has nothing to lose, so it sells itself as dearly as possible.
The bishop captures first
Here White's bishop on b5 is attacked by the pawn on a6, and Black's knight on e4 by the knight on c3. If White saves the bishop, Black saves the knight, and if White takes the knight, Black takes the bishop.
Show the solution step by step
The key is the check. Black has to deal with the king first and never gets the chance to save the knight. Without the check, Black could have answered with a desperado of its own: the knight on e4 would have taken on c3.
The trapped piece
The desperado also works for a piece that is trapped. It can't get away, but it can capture a pawn or two before it falls. That is better than nothing.
Keep this in mind
- See both pieces. When your piece is attacked, check whether one of your opponent's pieces is also under attack.
- Capture with check if you can. Then your opponent has no time to answer with a desperado of their own.
- Don't forget your opponent. Before you capture, ask yourself whether your opponent's threatened piece can capture something first.
The desperado is related to the zwischenzug, the in-between move: both are about doing something stronger than the obvious move.
Frequently asked questions
What is a desperado in chess?
A piece that can't be saved anyway, and so captures something before it is captured itself. It may be trapped, or attacked at the same time as one of the opponent's pieces.
When should you think of a desperado?
When both sides have a piece under attack. The player to move can often let their piece capture something first, preferably with check, and then capture the opponent's piece.
Updated October 31, 2026
The starting position. Press ▶ or use the arrow keys.