ChessClearance is when your own piece is in your own way, so you move it to let another piece use that line or square. The piece that moves is often just handed to your opponent, which is why it's also called a clearance sacrifice. When you play chess online and catch yourself thinking "if only this piece weren't here", that's a clearance chance.
What it looks like
The white queen is on b1, and the rook on h3 is also eyeing h7. If the queen could reach h7, it would be checkmate, but the white knight on e4 is sitting in the middle of the diagonal.
The knight gives check as it leaves, so Black has no time to cover h7 and has to answer the check first. However Black answers, the white queen dashes to h7 next move.
Two kinds of clearance
Clearing a line
The knight itself didn't do anything big. Its job was just to get out of the way. Getting out of the way with check, so your opponent has no time to fix things, is clearance at its prettiest.
Clearing a square
Sometimes the piece in the way is standing on the very best square.
The white queen needed the h7 square, but her own rook was standing on it. Give the rook away, and the square is free.
A real example: a rook in front of its pawn
This happens a lot in rook-and-pawn endgames: your own rook stands on the pawn's promotion square, so the pawn can't move up.
If the white rook just wandered off along the 8th rank, Black would have time to take the d7 pawn with his rook. You have to get out of the way with check, so your opponent has no time to cause trouble.
How to defend
- Watch for enemy pieces that are "in their own way." When an enemy piece stands in front of his own queen or rook, think: if he suddenly gave it away, what would open up?
- Be careful with sacrifices that come with check. When your opponent offers you a piece and gives check too, there's usually a reason. Look at which line or square he wants to open first.
- Don't leave key squares with only one defender. Squares next to your king, like h7 and g7, are much safer with an extra guard.
Practice puzzles
Show answer
1. Rh8+ The rook charges to h8 with check, leaving f8 free. Whether Black takes the rook or moves away, the pawn promotes to a queen next move.
Show answer
1. Nf6+ gxf6 2. Qh7# The knight jumps to f6 with check, clearing h7. Black has to take the knight with a pawn, and the queen rushes to h7, protected by the bishop on d3. Checkmate.
Show answer
1... Nf3+ 2. gxf3 Qxh2# The knight jumps to f3 with check, clearing the b8-h2 diagonal. White takes the knight with a pawn, and the black queen rushes to h2, protected by the rook on h6. Checkmate.
FAQ
What's the difference between clearance and a discovered attack?
They're similar: both move a piece out of the way. A discovered attack is about the moving piece and the piece behind making two threats together. Clearance is about getting out of the way itself, and the piece that moves is often just given away.
Does clearance always involve a sacrifice?
No, but the most common clearances do. You need to get out of the way without giving your opponent time, and the fastest way is to hand over a piece while giving check or making a threat.
How do I practice spotting clearance?
Find the square or line you'd most like to use, then see who's blocking it. If it's your own piece, think about whether it can leave with a check or a threat.
Try it yourself
Clearance is a close cousin of the discovered attack and interference, so look at them together in chess tactics, or start with the fork. Then play a game of free chess against the computer and look for your own pieces getting in your own way.