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TacticsLast Updated: 2026-07-18

Sacrifice

"Deliberately giving up material to gain time, activity, attack, structure, or another advantage."

In-Depth Explanation

A sacrifice exchanges measurable material for compensation that may be tactical or positional. Sound sacrifices can be calculated to a favorable result; speculative sacrifices rely on practical pressure. Evaluate king safety, development, forcing moves, and whether the opponent can return material to neutralize the attack.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does sacrifice mean in chess?

Deliberately giving up material to gain time, activity, attack, structure, or another advantage.

How can I practice sacrifice?

Look for sacrifice in themed puzzles, then review missed patterns in the analysis board without moving the pieces first.

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