Exchange sacrifice: a practical example
A rook might capture a knight that is central to the opponent's defense, leaving the opponent with more nominal material but a vulnerable king. In other positions, the sacrifice secures a strong outpost or eliminates a dangerous passed pawn.
How to use the idea in your games
Compare the remaining pieces and pawn structure, not just a point count. The sacrifice needs a durable positional benefit or a concrete tactical justification.
A useful study question
Can you explain exchange sacrifice in your own words, identify it in a position, and describe when the idea does not apply? Test the explanation on a legal board before relying on it.
Connect the ideas
Material, Outpost, Compensation are useful next concepts. Follow the links to compare definitions and examples, then return to the complete chess glossary whenever an unfamiliar term appears.
Sources & further reading
References checked September 5, 2026. Linked services are independent of ChessRankings.com™.