tactics ยท difficulty 3/5

Desperado

A doomed piece sells itself dearly before being captured.

Plain-English Definition

A desperado tactic uses a trapped or attacked piece to capture something valuable before it falls.

Why It Matters

Desperado tactics turn bad news into compensation.

Common Signs in Games

  • A piece is lost no matter what.
  • It can capture with check or tempo.
  • Both sides have hanging pieces.

Common Mistakes

  • Saving a piece that cannot be saved.
  • Missing the strongest final capture.
  • Letting the opponent use a desperado first.