Real sacrifice

In the historical classification associated with Rudolf Spielmann, a real sacrifice genuinely gives up material, meaning pieces or pawns: there is no short sequence the opponent cannot avoid that guarantees immediate recovery. Compensation may take the form of a lasting attack, an unsafe enemy king, greater activity, control of squares, or the initiative, meaning the ability to pose problems that demand answers.

This separates it from an apparent or sham sacrifice, in which the offered piece is quickly regained or a calculable sequence ends in mate. A real sacrifice contains more uncertainty, and its evaluation depends on factors lasting many moves. A queen sacrifice or rook sacrifice can be real, but the name of the piece and the nature of the compensation describe different aspects.

The word real does not automatically mean sound. The sacrifice may be correct, doubtful, or mistaken. To judge it, compare the material surrendered with the quality and duration of the activity received, the opponent's defensive resources, and the possibility that exchanges will extinguish the attack.