ChessRanger
Tactics

Clearance

A move — often a sacrifice — that vacates a square or line so another piece can use it.

A clearance sacrifice throws away material for one reason: a friendly piece is standing on the square or line you need. Get it out of the way — with tempo if you can — and the real threat lands.

The cousin of clearance is the decoy (which lures an enemy piece) and deflection (which drags a defender away). Clearance is about your own pieces getting out of their own way.

Why it matters

Many combinations only work after a quiet clearance move. Training yourself to notice 'my own piece is in the way' unlocks tactics you'd otherwise miss.

The mistake everyone makes

Calculating a beautiful mating net and forgetting that your own rook blocks the file the queen needs.

Related terms

Deflection
Forcing an enemy piece away from an important duty so something it was guarding falls.
Decoy
Luring an enemy piece — often the king — onto a square where it can be hit by a follow-up tactic.
Zwischenzug
An unexpected in-between move played before the 'obvious' recapture.
Tactic
A short, forcing sequence of moves that wins material or delivers mate.

See Clearance in your own games

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