In this level you move one piece out of the way for another piece to give checkmate on a subsequent move.

Explanation

A clearing move can be especially strong if it is a forcing move—a check, for example. Sometimes the clearing piece can be sacrificed with a check, so that the opponent has to defend against the check and has no time to defend against the checkmate threat.

The clearing move can also help to set up checkmate by, for example, guarding escape squares, capturing a defender, or stopping other pieces from defending against the checkmate threat.

Sometimes the opponent can defend against the revealed checkmate threat, but the combination wins material if the clearing move is a capture or an attack, or if it sets up another threat.

Here are some examples of threatening checkmate with a clearance:

In each diagram, White has a battery of rook and queen that could checkmate the black king, but a knight is in the way.

In the first diagram, the knight can give the check indicated by the arrow to force a checkmate on the next move. Black has to move the king and has no time to defend against the checkmate threat: 1.Nf7+ Kg8 2.Qxg7#.

In the second diagram, the knight can make the move indicated by the arrow to block the queen from defending against the checkmate threat. The queen can guard one of the squares where checkmate is threatened, but not both: 1.Ne6 Qxe6 2.Qg7# or 1...Qd7 2.Qg8#.

In the third diagram, checkmate is not forced, but White can win the queen with the knight move indicated by the arrow. The knight attacks the black queen and clears the way for the white queen for a checkmate threat. Black can't defend against both threats with one move: 1.Ne6 g6 2.Nxd8, or 1...fxe6 2.Qxg7#, or 1...Qd4 2.Nxd4.

Examples

White has a "battery" of rooks on the f-file. In a battery, if one piece moves, it clears the way for the other piece to follow. White wins with 1.Rf8+, clearing the way for the 2nd rook on f1. After 1...Kg7, White can checkmate with 2.R1f7#.

A clearance can also be a quiet move, as in the following example:

Black's king was driven all the way to the first rank, where it does not have any escape squares. White can win with the quiet move 1.h4, clearing the way for 2.Qh3#. This is a mating net, as Black has no way to prevent checkmate.

Sometimes the clearing move can be a sacrifice:

Black can win with the knight sacrifice 1...Nb3+!, clearing the way for the queen to b2. After 2.Bxb3 (and after 2.Kb1), Black can checkmate with 2...Qb2#.

Related motifs

You can also combine clearance with other motifs: