25. e4!! outstanding example of an attacking clearance S Williams vs P Motwani, 2004  (D17) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 28 moves, 1-0 41...d4!! M Stolberg vs Botvinnik, 1940  (E48) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5, 41 moves, 0-1 21. Bb7!! McShane vs F T Naes, 2003  (C67) Ruy Lopez, 24 moves, 1-0 19. Ne4!! clears the rook to move to g3 G Mahia vs Quinteros, 1980  (B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 28 moves, 1-0 10. Nf6+ facilitates a variation of Legal's mate J N Berger vs Frohlich, 1888  (C46) Three Knights, 11 moves, 1-0 21. Na6! clears 22. Rc7 +- Shabalov vs K Arkell, 1991  (B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 22 moves, 1-0 27. c6! prepares a winning double attack Piket vs Xu Jun, 1994  (D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 31 moves, 1-0 23...Nb5! Anand vs Radjabov, 2003  (B32) Sicilian, 39 moves, 0-1 22. Bh6! and after 24. gxh3 Bf4+! P Needham vs S Polgar, 1981  (B33) Sicilian, 23 moves, 0-1 17. Nf3+!! is a clearance sacrifice leading to mate. J Schulten vs Morphy, 1857  (C31) King's Gambit Declined, Falkbeer Counter Gambit, 23 moves, 0-1 24. Nxf7! Rxf7 25. Qc3+ +- G Barbero vs U Rueetschi, 1987  (A56) Benoni Defense, 28 moves, 1-0 18. Ne2+! Tarrasch vs Romberg, 1893  (000) Chess variants, 21 moves, 1-0 49...Nf8?? (49....Ng5! -+) allows 50. Nf5!! +- Karpov vs Csom, 1977  (A16) English, 50 moves, 1-0 27. Ne6!! clears the d-file to create five mate threats at once Krasenkow vs Adianto, 1998  (D26) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 27 moves, 1-0 24...Qb6+! allows 25...Re8 for a dominating position. T Vakhidov vs Nisipeanu, 2004  (A42) Modern Defense, Averbakh System, 42 moves, 0-1 31. Nf7+ clears d6 to set up a winning "removing the guard" Kasparov vs M Wahls, 1992  (B07) Pirc, 37 moves, 1-0 17. d5!! Steinitz vs Von Bardeleben, 1895  (C54) Giuoco Piano, 25 moves, 1-0 27...Rh2! and 29...Rf5! are excellent clearance moves. F Hermann vs H Hussong, 1930  (C68) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, 32 moves, 0-1 21...d5!! Polgar vs Kasparov, 2002  (B33) Sicilian, 45 moves, 0-1 31. Bb6!! K Spraggett vs G Vescovi, 2004  (C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 37 moves, 1-0 56...d4! M Gurevich vs Anand, 2004  (E46) Nimzo-Indian, 60 moves, 0-1 30...c5!? gives the Knight a strong post on d4 M Basman vs D Barua, 1991  (A25) English, 39 moves, 0-1 19. a5!? A J Mestel vs M Basman, 1992  (B00) Uncommon King's Pawn Opening, 35 moves, 1-0 23. Rxe4! and 25. e6! Leko vs L Bruzon Batista, 2005  (C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 25 moves, 1-0 20. e5! is a strong positional clearance move T Enkhbat vs Shulman, 2002  (E92) King's Indian, 44 moves, 1-0 34. Kf1!! is an awesome "defensive and offensive" clearance Polgar vs I Sokolov, 2005  (C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 40 moves, 1-0 15...d5! clears the diagonal for 16. Nxa8?? Bh3+! T Farrand vs D K Johansen, 1980  (C25) Vienna, 18 moves, 0-1 31...Bf5! C McNab vs Dreev, 2005  (A11) English, Caro-Kann Defensive System, 31 moves, 0-1 20. Nxd5! N Katishonok vs H Gulbis, 1989  (D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 27 moves, 1-0 24...d3! 25. cxd3 Nd4! gives Black a strong advantage Sveshnikov vs S Webb, 1977  (C18) French, Winawer, 38 moves, 0-1 32. e5! is a deep clearance sacrifice Shirov vs D King, 1990  (E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 39 moves, 1-0 25...Bxa1 sets up 26...Nd4!, threatening 27...Bh3! L Stumpers vs Euwe, 1946  (E60) King's Indian Defense, 30 moves, 0-1 22. Nxc5! O Giordanengo vs R Gehrke, 1991  (C57) Two Knights, 24 moves, 1-0 34. c6! Azmaiparashvili vs Dreev, 2005  (D12) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 46 moves, 1-0 35. Rh3! forces the win of the exchange Kasparov vs Karpov, 1990  (C45) Scotch Game, 102 moves, 1-0 35. c6! Smyslov vs Szabo, 1955  (D74) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.cd Nxd5, 7.O-O, 43 moves, 1-0 32. c6! Alekhine vs Foltys, 1937  (B62) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 40 moves, 1-0 21. d6! expedites a won game with a neat clearance move T Hillarp Persson vs Polgar, 2003  (E20) Nimzo-Indian, 43 moves, 1-0 16. d5! Botvinnik vs N Begunov, 1924  (D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 32 moves, 1-0 36. Qxh3+! A Dragomirescu vs V Nebolsina, 2005  (D17) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 37 moves, 0-1 42. Re4! and Black can't stop both mate threats M Cuellar Gacharna vs Reshevsky, 1967  (A57) Benko Gambit, 42 moves, 1-0 15. e5! helps to setup 19. Qxe5! Szabo vs K Honfi, 1950  (D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 26 moves, 1-0 21. e5! initiates a winning kinside attack Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969  (B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 24 moves, 1-0 33. Ng5+! J Nogueiras vs Polugaevsky, 1990  (A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 33 moves, 1-0 24. c5! is a winning positional clearance move Chigorin vs B Yankovich, 1899  (C51) Evans Gambit, 32 moves, 1-0 28. Ne3! clears the diagonal to capture the new Queen B Jonasson vs H Angantysson, 1986  (B33) Sicilian, 27 moves, 0-1 23. Bd5!! P Markland vs Hort, 1971  (B10) Caro-Kann, 30 moves, 1-0 43...Qb7! prepares 44...f5! for two Bishop moves & a win Morozevich vs Topalov, 2005  (B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 74 moves, 0-1 26. Nf6+!! Smyslov vs M Fuller, 1969  (E60) King's Indian Defense, 29 moves, 1-0 13...d5! R Schulder vs S Boden, 1853  (C41) Philidor Defense, 15 moves, 0-1 38. Qg7+! clears h6 for the mate which occurred in this game. Panno vs J M Aitken, 1958  (A66) Benoni, 40 moves, 1-0 66...h1=Q!! A Sznapik vs Balashov, 1990  (C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 68 moves, 0-1 34. Nf7+!! Smyslov vs A Magrin, 1968  (A15) English, 41 moves, 1-0 28. Nf5+! Gligoric vs E Nievergelt, 1959  (B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 29 moves, 1-0 18. Nf5! Kaidanov vs Wojtkiewicz, 1994  (B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 26 moves, 1-0 33. Rxd3! Keres vs Gligoric, 1959  (C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 38 moves, 1-0 55. Nxc4+! permits 56. Qd6+! Unzicker vs G Stein, 1948  (C15) French, Winawer, 56 moves, 1-0 24. Nxg5! may win a bit easier than Unzicker's brilliant move Unzicker vs Tal, 1975  (B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 32 moves, 1-0 21. Bg5+! J Fort vs W Campbell, 1913  (C33) King's Gambit Accepted, 21 moves, 1-0 18. Rc7!! prepares a decisive triple mate threat S Kuemin vs R Staechelin, 2005  (D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 20 moves, 1-0 37...Ne3+! Gulko vs Adams, 2000  (E49) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Botvinnik System, 38 moves, 0-1 21...Rg8+! Van Wely vs Morozevich, 2001  (D16) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 21 moves, 0-1 36...Bxc3! A Kovacevic vs Kramnik, 1991  (B33) Sicilian, 37 moves, 0-1 If 27. e4, then 27...Bg4!! with the threat of 28...Qf3! wins R Hubert vs G Welling, 1997  (A10) English, 28 moves, 0-1 41. Bg6!! combines clearance and deflection Polgar vs I Rogers, 1993  (B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 42 moves, 1-0 51. Bf6! I Smikovski vs V L Ivanov, 2006  (B42) Sicilian, Kan, 51 moves, 1-0 40. Ne4! Bxe4 41. Qg5! would have won even quicker Eliskases vs Hoelzl, 1929  (D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 43 moves, 1-0 29...b4! J Radovanovic vs A Kveinys, 2005  (B42) Sicilian, Kan, 40 moves, 0-1 28. Ne5!! Timman vs S Tatai, 1977  (C51) Evans Gambit, 28 moves, 1-0 37. Nxh6! sets up 38. Kg1! Miles vs L Nikolaiczuk, 1986  (D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 38 moves, 1-0 28. Bg5!! M Rivas Pastor vs Suba, 1980  (A65) Benoni, 6.e4, 43 moves, 1-0 28. Rxe6+! Fischer vs W Hook, 1970  (C18) French, Winawer, 28 moves, 1-0 40. Ne7+! I Cheparinov vs Z Almasi, 2006  (C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 40 moves, 1-0 18. Nd5+!, which is set up by 17. 0-0!! Sax vs E Hermansson, 2005  (B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 25 moves, 1-0 38...Ng3+! Karpov vs Taimanov, 1977  (B32) Sicilian, 38 moves, 0-1 20. Ng5+! Carlsen vs P Nikolic, 2005  (C08) French, Tarrasch, Open, 4.ed ed, 22 moves, 1-0 23. Qxb2!! leads to mate if accepted M Podgaets vs G Zaichik, 1986  (A77) Benoni, Classical, 9...Re8, 10.Nd2, 25 moves, 1-0 14. e5! and 21. Rxf5! R Pokorna vs N Gaprindashvili, 2003  (B56) Sicilian, 23 moves, 1-0 21. Nf5!! sets up two consecutive winning pins Beliavsky vs Kupreichik, 1973  (B72) Sicilian, Dragon, 26 moves, 1-0 17. Bxf5!! I Nyzhnyk vs D Baider, 2006  (C10) French, 21 moves, 1-0 29. d5!? not best but is an instructive positional sacrifice A Baburin vs S Fokin, 1989  (D42) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3, 36 moves, 1-0 26. e6! is a sham positional clearance sacrifice Z Almasi vs M Marin, 2008  (C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 38 moves, 1-0 37. Rd4! sets up 38. Qb4 +- Nunn vs J van der Tuuk, 1986  (B78) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 10.castle long, 40 moves, 1-0 23. e5!! prepares 24. d5! +- (though 24...Bb6!? isn't easy) Portisch vs R Garcia, 1966  (D23) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 28 moves, 1-0 25. d5! threatens discovered check with decisive effect Captain Evans vs G Perigal, 1843  (C20) King's Pawn Game, 32 moves, 1-0 25...Ng3+! solves a Thursday puzzle by creating a mate threat S Narayanan vs V Ikonnikov, 2006  (B32) Sicilian, 36 moves, 0-1 11...Nxe5! puts two knights enprise for two clearance options Gruenfeld vs Torre, 1925  (A90) Dutch, 13 moves, 0-1 23...Rxd4! clears the way for a decisive Knight Fork threat Kmoch vs Saemisch, 1928  (C28) Vienna Game, 23 moves, 0-1 21. Be5! combines the clearance and interference themes K Beddar vs N Arosemena, 2008  (E90) King's Indian, 24 moves, 1-0 22. Qg7+! initiates mate-in-three Bird vs Pinkerley, 1850  (000) Chess variants, 24 moves, 1-0 21. Nc6! opens up a decisive attack on Black's King-side Dolmatov vs Lautier, 1988  (B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 23 moves, 1-0 34. Qxh5+ wins only with the key clearance retreat 36. Ne3! K Richter vs E Reinhardt, 1937  (A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 36 moves, 1-0 27. Qxf4! Lasker vs Steinitz, 1895  (C71) Ruy Lopez, 32 moves, 1-0 20. Rxd5+! sets up a mating attack M Tauber vs P Bachmayr, 1991  (D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 24 moves, 1-0 27. Ba6! Gligoric vs Sveshnikov, 1986  (D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 57 moves, 1-0 17. Nxc7! prepares 18. Qd5+ +- with a winning attack R Nezhmetdinov vs Y Kotkov, 1957  (C67) Ruy Lopez, 25 moves, 1-0 47. e5! clears the way for a winning passer Unzicker vs A Dueckstein, 1967  (D22) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 51 moves, 1-0 49. Nxc5! clears the way for a decisive double threat Uhlmann vs Larsen, 1971  (A42) Modern Defense, Averbakh System, 49 moves, 1-0 37. Qxg6! anticipates 37...Rh1+ 38. Bf1! +- P Johner vs Bogoljubov, 1928  (D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 41 moves, 0-1 21...e4! wins the exchange M Ujtelky vs Parma, 1966  (A14) English, 26 moves, 0-1 24. f6! Z Gofshtein vs A G Ashton, 2007  (D08) Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin Counter Gambit, 24 moves, 1-0 46.Nxd5! exd5 47. Rb7 +- wins the exchange & the game R Lutzenberger vs K Grimm, 1999  (B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 55 moves, 1-0 34. b4! allows White to overload on the pinned piece R Grau vs Pilnik, 1938  (A47) Queen's Indian, 46 moves, 1-0 57. Re2! clears e8 for a fork and also attacks Black's Knight Topalov vs Leko, 2006  (E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 71 moves, 1-0 40. h6! Y Quesada Perez vs A Graf, 2008  (B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 41 moves, 1-0 89. g4+! M Socko vs M Dziuba, 2008  (B51) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 97 moves, 1/2-1/2 86. Qe7+! provides a decisive escape square for the King V Akhmadeev vs A Aleksandrov, 2008  (D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 89 moves, 1/2-1/2 12. d5!! overwhelms the Black position E Post vs F J Lee, 1905  (D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 23 moves, 1-0 12. e4!! is a deep clearance to open the e-file for the Rook Kramnik vs Beliavsky, 1995  (A06) Reti Opening, 18 moves, 1-0 29. e5! is a positional sham sac to mobilize pieces to attack Kramnik vs Nunn, 1994  (E92) King's Indian, 43 moves, 1-0 33. Ne5+!! also combines knight fork, decoy and deomolition Psakhis vs N Mitkov, 1997  (C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 49 moves, 1-0 28. Ne5! prepared by 27. b4!! sets up a winning double attack T Dao vs F Jenni, 1998  (E75) King's Indian, Averbakh, Main line, 29 moves, 1-0 29...e4! +- exploits 29. Nb6? (better is 29. Nxc5 +/- ) E Ubilava vs Kupreichik, 1983  (D38) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation, 38 moves, 0-1 22...Ne2+!! Opens up an attack on the exposed Queen & weak King Ljubojevic vs R Gunawan, 1983  (C04) French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line, 26 moves, 0-1 29...Bxf3!! clears d- file for Rook and d5 for Knight Fork K Mulder van Leens Dijkstra vs J Penrose, 1981  (D28) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 38 moves, 0-1 17. Nxc8+! Rxc8 18. Nf5+ Kf8 19. Bd6+ +- T Physick vs S Passmore, 1900  (C11) French, 29 moves, 1-0 12. Be5+! solves Tuesday 3/26/2013 R Narmontas vs G Petraitis, 2009  (C25) Vienna, 13 moves, 1-0 24. f5!! Negi vs G Munkhgal, 2014  (C11) French, 30 moves, 1-0 27...Nxg3! Shimanov vs So, 2015  (E48) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5, 29 moves, 0-1 31. Nxe6+! combines clearance, in-between move and pinning A Feuerstein vs E Marchand, 1954  (D00) Queen's Pawn Game, 38 moves, 1-0 34. d5! solves Saturday, Aug 26, 2017 Kramnik vs Giri, 2016  (A07) King's Indian Attack, 46 moves, 1-0 33.Rh8+! KxR 34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Ng5 +- forces mate P Tregubov vs Efimenko, 2008  (E15) Queen's Indian, 34 moves, 1-0 19...d3! solves Saturday June 1, 2018 Denker vs Botvinnik, 1945  (D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 25 moves, 0-1 32. gxf5 gxf5 33. Bxe4! +- L Prins vs E Paoli, 1949  (C78) Ruy Lopez, 34 moves, 1-0 27. Rxd5+!! exd5 28. e6+! solves Friday Dec 20, 2019 Panno vs Larsen, 1971  (D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 35 moves, 1-0 125 games