Queen Sacs: What's Better Than a Queen?

Hola ChessKids! Have you ever lost your queen? (No, I meant to do that!) Some people are so very attached to their powerful queenie that they won't even allow a trade. (Is that you?) Well, sometimes you should give up your queen because you get the best thing in return: checkmate!! By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).

 

A queen is worth nine points, but checkmate wins! When you give something away to get something better, that's called a sacrifice. And there's nothing more brutal than sacking your queen!

Try these puzzles:

1. White sacks her queen because a back rank mate is better! You know about powerful pins, right?

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2.  This time it's Black to move. It's a queen sac, mate in three, pawn promotion, Swallow's Tail Mate. Got it?

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3.  Now in this case, White will at least win material, if not the whole game.  Do you see how weak the Black back rank is?

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4.  Black to move.  Another weak back rank demands an awesome queen sac! (Mate in three.)

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Fabulous work, my friends! Remember, sometimes the position is more important than the material . Give your queens a chance to show what they're made of!