Give to get
A sacrifice is a move where you deliberately give away material. It sounds like a mistake, and sometimes it is. The difference between a sacrifice and a blunder is that the sacrifice is calculated: you know, or think you know, what you get back. It may be a checkmate, more material later on, or an attack your opponent has no time to stop.
Most sacrifices go together with other tactical motifs. The sacrifice opens a line, lures a piece to the wrong square or removes a defender, and then comes the fork, the pin or the mate.
A queen sacrifice for mate
The most spectacular sacrifice is giving away the queen. It pays off if it leads to mate, and it does more often than you would think when your opponent's king has no air on the back rank.
The bishop sacrifice on h7
One of the most famous sacrifices in chess: when Black has castled kingside and the knight has left f6, White can often sacrifice the bishop on h7 with check. The king is drawn out, the knight comes to g5 with another check, and the queen joins in via h5. It is known as the Greek gift.
The sacrifice only works when the conditions are there: a pawn on e5 that keeps the knight away from f6, a knight that can reach g5 and a queen that can reach h5. Always calculate Black's defense before you sacrifice.
Sacrifices in the opening: gambits
Sacrifices start as early as the opening. A pawn sacrifice for quicker development or a stronger center is called a gambit. The Queen's Gambit is one of the most common openings, and there White can usually win back the pawn if Black takes it.
Before you sacrifice
- Count the forcing moves. Checks, captures and threats. If your opponent has a free hand after the sacrifice, it is rarely enough.
- Look for your opponent's best defense, not the one you are hoping for.
- Be honest with yourself. If you can't calculate the sacrifice to the end, ask yourself whether you get enough anyway.
A series of forcing moves that ends in a win, often with a sacrifice along the way, is called a combination.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sacrifice in chess?
A move where you deliberately give away material to get something else: a checkmate, more material back, or a strong attack.
What is the difference between a sacrifice and a blunder?
Intention and calculation. A sacrifice is a deliberate choice where you have worked out what you get back. A blunder is a mistake.
What is a gambit?
A sacrifice in the opening, usually of a pawn, to get quicker development, a stronger center or open lines.
Updated October 31, 2026