Advanced tactic · 4 of 15
Clearance
Move your own piece out of the way, with a threat, so another piece can use the square or line.
- Learn how it worksThree examples with Capra. You play each one yourself.Three examples with CapraStart the lesson
- Practise on real puzzlesPractise on puzzles80 clearance puzzles, from easy to very hard.0 of 80 solvedGo to the puzzlesGo to the puzzles
Three things to clear
Sometimes your own piece is the one in the way. Move it with check and Black has no time to react.
Clear a diagonal
The knight checks and opens the diagonal for the queen and the bishop.
Clear a square
The queen checks and leaves f7 free for the knight.
Clear a file
The rook checks on h8 and leaves the h-file to the queen.
Clearances in numbers
Counted from the 1,247 clearances in our puzzle library, all taken from real games- 1 in 250
of our puzzles has a clearance in it.
- 51%
of them end in checkmate.
- 63%
of them come in the middlegame.
Which piece makes the first move
- Knight43%
- Rook24%
- Queen15%
- Bishop9%
- Pawn8%
What it wins
- Checkmate51%
- Queen14%
- Rook9%
- Bishop3%
- Knight2%
Good to know
Clearances: common questions
What is clearance in chess?
Clearance is moving one of your own pieces out of the way so that another piece can use the square or the line it was blocking. The clearing move usually comes with a check or a threat, so your opponent has no time to prepare.
What is the difference between clearance and a discovered attack?
In a discovered attack the piece behind attacks something the moment the front piece moves. In a clearance the piece behind needs one more move. It travels along the opened line, or lands on the emptied square, on the next turn.
Does a clearance have to be a sacrifice?
No. The clearing piece only has to leave, and sometimes it goes to a safe square. It is often given up because a check or a capture is the fastest way to leave, and speed matters more than the piece.
How do I find a clearance?
Ask what you could play if one of your own pieces were not on the board. If the answer is a mate or a winning move, look for a way to move that piece with check or with a threat.