Best Books on Chess Sacrifices recommends six books on the chess sacrifice, chosen from those available on Forward Chess and grouped by the level each suits. By kind of sacrifice, van Delft’s Mastering Positional Sacrifices covers the positional sacrifice, Kotronias’s The Exchange Sacrifice according to Tigran Petrosian the exchange sacrifice through Petrosian’s games, Cheparinov’s Powerhouse Pawn Sacrifices the pawn sacrifice, Edwards’s Sacking the Citadel the classic bishop sacrifice, Kuljasevic’s Beyond Material sacrifice within a broader study of material, and Spielmann’s The Art of Sacrifice in Chess the kinds of sacrifice as a whole.
Two of them, Spielmann and Cheparinov, are included on editorial judgment rather than on reviews, and none is recommended for beginners, who will get more from our guide to the best chess tactics books.
Best Books on Chess Sacrifices by Playing Level:
| Book | Author | Publisher | Year | Pages | Level | What it is | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastering Positional Sacrifices | Merijn van Delft | New in Chess | 2020 | 320 | Club and advanced | Manual on the positional sacrifice | Two expert reviews |
| The Art of Sacrifice in Chess (21st Century Edition) | Rudolf Spielmann, revised and expanded by Karsten Müller | Russell Enterprises | 2015 | 272 | Club | Survey of sacrifice types, first published 1935 | Included on editorial judgment; no independent review of this edition found |
| Sacking the Citadel | Jon Edwards | Russell Enterprises | 2011 | 400 | Club (about 1800 and up) | Monograph on one sacrifice, the bishop sacrifice on h7/h2 (the Greek gift) | One independent expert review |
| Beyond Material | Davorin Kuljasevic | New in Chess | 2019 | 336 | Club (about 1800 and up) and advanced | Manual with 50 exercises; sacrifice within a broader subject | One expert review addressing its sacrifice content, plus whole-book praise |
| The Exchange Sacrifice according to Tigran Petrosian | Vassilios Kotronias | Russell Enterprises | 2022 | 304 | Advanced | Collection of annotated games | One independent expert review |
| Powerhouse Pawn Sacrifices | Ivan Cheparinov | Quality Chess | 2025 | 216 | Advanced | Manual on the pawn sacrifice | Included on editorial judgment; published June 2025, too new for a settled body of reviews |
Two books appear in both sections because the evidence supports both levels: van Delft and Kuljasevic.
Which sacrifice books suit club players?
At club level these books differ by what they cover. Van Delft is a manual on the positional sacrifice; Spielmann is the oldest book here by first publication, a survey of the kinds of sacrifice; Edwards covers a single sacrifice in depth; Kuljasevic covers sacrifice inside a broader book on what pieces are really worth.
Mastering Positional Sacrifices — Merijn van Delft
Van Delft’s Mastering Positional Sacrifices (New In Chess) is a manual on the positional sacrifice for club players from about 1800 up, and the best-evidenced book in this guide, on two expert reviews. 2020, 320 pages.
Richard James, in British Chess News, calls it “yet another outstanding book from New in Chess” and its author “an excellent teacher”, and puts its audience in his own words: “if you’re rated, say, 1800+, this book will add a new dimension to your chess.” IM Herman Grooten, reviewing it on Schaaksite, concludes “Een aanrader!” — recommended — though he is himself a New In Chess author, and he disputes the evaluation of the book’s very first example.
It is not a beginner’s book. Van Delft’s own introduction gives “a mild warning to beginning chess players: this book may not be the best place to start for you”, and Nick Visel, in a review written for the Chessable version, finds the harder exercises tough “unless you’re a master”.
The Art of Sacrifice in Chess — Rudolf Spielmann
Spielmann’s The Art of Sacrifice in Chess (Russell Enterprises) is the oldest book here by first publication, a survey of the kinds of sacrifice placed at club level — and it is included on editorial judgment, not on reviews. This is the 21st Century Edition, revised and expanded by Karsten Müller (2015, 272 pages). The book was first published in German in 1935.
Be clear about what you are getting. Müller’s edition adds new chapters to Spielmann’s original — chapters 14 to 24 in the printed contents — and his preface says Spielmann’s original effort “has approximately doubled in size”. The notation is figurine algebraic, converted from the descriptive notation of the older English translations.
The book’s reputation belongs largely to those older translations. We found no independent expert review of this edition, so this recommendation rests on editorial judgment rather than on sourced evidence. The provenance of its English translation is also disputed: the chess historian Edward Winter has questioned the edition’s translation credits.
The criticism that does exist is worth knowing, and it targets Spielmann’s own chapters, which this edition keeps. One Goodreads reviewer writes that Spielmann “seriously overestimates the attacker’s chances in many positions”; another suggests treating it as “a games collection rather than a textbook”.
Sacking the Citadel — Jon Edwards
Edwards’s Sacking the Citadel (Russell Enterprises) is a deep treatment of one sacrifice — the classic bishop sacrifice on h7 or h2, the Greek gift — for players from about 1800 up, on IM John Donaldson’s review; it is not a general book on sacrificing. 2011, 400 pages.
Its recommendation rests on a single independent expert review. IM John Donaldson calls it “a valuable contribution to the literature of attacking the King” that “will prove quite useful for players from 1800 on up”, and “light years more comprehensive and focused than earlier treatments of the theme by Voellmy, Znosko-Borovsky and Vukovic”.
That is the extent of the expert record. Donaldson’s verdict is scoped to attacking the king, not to sacrifice in general, and in the years since the book has attracted little further discussion. It is for readers who want this one sacrifice in depth.
Beyond Material — Davorin Kuljasevic
Kuljasevic’s Beyond Material (New In Chess) covers sacrifice within a broader study of material versus time, space and psychology, for club players from about 1800 up and for advanced players, and is recommended on IM John Watson’s review in Chess Life. 2019, 336 pages.
Watson’s review addresses its sacrifice content directly: “in order to influence the value of the pieces, it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice material, for which Kuljasevic offers examples aplenty.” Watson adds that chapters 3 and 4 “directly show how sacrifices work to improve one’s tactical and/or positional chances”, and that “the strength of the book resides in its superb choice of examples”.
The book is about what your pieces are really worth, and no chapter is titled “sacrifice”: its six thematic chapters run from “Attachment to material” and “Relative value of material” through “Time beats material”, “Space beats material”, “Psychology of non-materialism” and “Is it good to be greedy in chess?”, with 50 test positions spread through chapters 2 to 6 and a chapter of solutions.
Its level is the one point of disagreement. Watson thinks it “a particularly good fit for those from about 1200 to 2200”; Barry Braeken, on Schaaksite, advises against it below 1800 as too difficult; FM Richard Webb, in British Chess News, writes “It is aimed at 140+ players”, on the English grading scale. Treat it as an upper-club book. Two smaller complaints, both from reviewers who liked it: the explanations in the solutions are sometimes brief, and some annotations could have gone further.
Separately, the book as a whole was a finalist for FIDE’s 2019 Averbakh–Boleslavsky Award, whose jury said it “unites classical chess literature with fresh ideas and analysis”.
Which sacrifice books suit advanced players?
At advanced level the books divide by method. Kotronias teaches the exchange sacrifice through Petrosian’s games; Cheparinov sets hard exercises on the pawn sacrifice; van Delft and Kuljasevic carry on from the club section, with different expectations at this strength.
The Exchange Sacrifice according to Tigran Petrosian — Vassilios Kotronias
Kotronias’s The Exchange Sacrifice according to Tigran Petrosian (Russell Enterprises) teaches the exchange sacrifice to advanced players by annotated example — Petrosian’s games — not by instruction. 2022, 304 pages, most of them given over to 36 annotated games.
It is recommended on one independent expert review. Colin Purdon, in British Chess News, calls it “a very interesting and enjoyable book”.
Know the format before you buy. Purdon notes that “The book isn’t a formal study of when/why exchange sacrifices work and when they don’t”, and Stjepan Tomic of chessreads agrees: “This book will not teach you any one specific thing.” Neither treats this as a flaw — Tomic argues the single-theme focus makes it more useful than an ordinary game collection, and Purdon finds that focus original — but if you want a how-to manual on the exchange sacrifice, this is not one.
Powerhouse Pawn Sacrifices — Ivan Cheparinov
Cheparinov’s Powerhouse Pawn Sacrifices (Quality Chess) is a dedicated, exercise-led manual on the pawn sacrifice for advanced players — included on editorial judgment, because, published in June 2025, it is too new to have built up a body of reviews. 2025, 216 pages.
The reviews so far give no quality verdict we could weight. For a book this new, that is a different signal from thin evidence on a book that has been in print for a decade or more: it reflects the book’s age, not a verdict on it. The review that speaks to its level is Sean Marsh’s, in CHESS Magazine, which warns that “Club players will find themselves out of their depth” and that “Readers are confronted by a series of difficult exercises from the very start.” It is for advanced players only.
Mastering Positional Sacrifices at advanced level — Merijn van Delft
At advanced level, van Delft’s Mastering Positional Sacrifices is still recommended, as a structured course rather than as new material: many of its examples will be familiar. Richard James notes that many “will already be familiar to experienced players”, and van Delft’s own introduction warns that “you may come across a fair amount of examples that you already know.”
The computer material may also show its age: Visel notes that “In the computer chapters the book may superficially show its age”.
Beyond Material at advanced level — Davorin Kuljasevic
At advanced level, Kuljasevic’s Beyond Material is recommended as the one book in this guide that treats sacrifice as part of the wider question of what material is worth. Stjepan Tomic calls it “a difficult book for ambitious and advanced players” and judges it “best suited for players above 2000 FIDE”, and Watson’s range runs to 2200.
Which dedicated sacrifice books are not included?
Two of the dedicated books on the subject that Forward Chess does not carry are named here, though not recommended: Vladimir Vuković’s The Chess Sacrifice and Mihai Suba’s Positional Chess Sacrifices. They are named so that their absence is not mistaken for an oversight: this guide recommends from what Forward Chess carries, not from everything written on the subject.
What this guide does not cover
No book here is a dedicated manual on the exchange sacrifice. The only book here devoted to it is Kotronias’s collection of games; van Delft’s manual gives it one chapter (“Typical exchange sacrifices”) and Spielmann’s survey another (Chapter 12, “The Exchange Sacrifice”), so readers wanting instruction on it are served less well than readers wanting examples.
Sacrifice in attacking play is also covered in our guide to attacking chess books. That guide includes Ivan Sokolov’s Sacrifice and Initiative in Chess, whose second part, chapters 8 to 16, is devoted to sacrifice.
How were these books chosen?
Every recommendation here rests on sourced, attributed opinion, except two that are marked as editorial picks. Van Delft carries the most expert support; Edwards and Kotronias each rest on one named expert review, and Kuljasevic on one review that addresses its sacrifice content, with further praise for the book as a whole. Spielmann and Cheparinov are included on editorial judgment rather than on sourced reviews, and they are labeled that way wherever they appear.
Where an endorsement turned out to be a publisher blurb, came from someone connected to the book, or described a different edition, it was set aside rather than counted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best book on chess sacrifices?
It depends on the kind of sacrifice. For the positional sacrifice, van Delft’s Mastering Positional Sacrifices carries the strongest evidence in this guide and suits both club and advanced players. For the judgment behind giving up material in general, Kuljasevic’s Beyond Material is recommended on IM John Watson’s review. Spielmann’s The Art of Sacrifice in Chess is the oldest book here by first publication, a survey of the kinds of sacrifice, included on editorial judgment rather than on reviews of the current edition.
Is there a good book on chess sacrifices for beginners?
Not among these six, and that is a finding about the books rather than an oversight. None has a sourced recommendation at beginner level, and most of the level statements we found place them at club level or above; recommending one anyway would mean presenting a club-level book as beginner-friendly. Start with tactics: our guide to the best chess tactics books covers that ground.
Is there a book that teaches the exchange sacrifice?
Kotronias’s The Exchange Sacrifice according to Tigran Petrosian covers it through 36 annotated Petrosian games. It is a collection of games rather than a how-to manual, and its reviewers say so. Van Delft’s Mastering Positional Sacrifices and Spielmann’s The Art of Sacrifice in Chess each also give it a chapter.
Is there a book on the Greek gift sacrifice?
Jon Edwards’s Sacking the Citadel is devoted to it: 400 pages on the classic bishop sacrifice on h7 or h2, recommended by IM John Donaldson for players “from 1800 on up”.
Is there a book on pawn sacrifices?
Ivan Cheparinov’s Powerhouse Pawn Sacrifices (Quality Chess, 2025) is a dedicated, exercise-led book on the subject. It is an editorial pick: published in June 2025, it is too new to have built up a body of reviews, and Sean Marsh’s review in CHESS Magazine warns that club players will find it hard.
Is Spielmann’s The Art of Sacrifice in Chess still worth reading?
It is the oldest book here by first publication, a survey of the kinds of sacrifice, and the edition on Forward Chess is Karsten Müller’s 2015 revision in algebraic notation. It is included on editorial judgment: we found no independent review of that edition, and the substantive reader criticism targets Spielmann’s own chapters.
Final Recommendations
For club players
- Mastering Positional Sacrifices by van Delft — a manual on the positional sacrifice for club players from about 1800 up, and the best-evidenced book in this guide, on two expert reviews.
- The Art of Sacrifice in Chess by Spielmann — the oldest book here by first publication, a survey of the kinds of sacrifice. Included on editorial judgment, not on reviews.
- Sacking the Citadel by Edwards — a deep treatment of one sacrifice, the bishop sacrifice on h7 or h2 (the Greek gift), for players from about 1800 up. Not a general book on sacrificing.
- Beyond Material by Kuljasevic — sacrifice within a broader study of material versus time, space and psychology; treat it as an upper-club book.
For advanced players
- The Exchange Sacrifice according to Tigran Petrosian by Kotronias — teaches the exchange sacrifice by annotated example, through Petrosian's games, not by instruction.
- Powerhouse Pawn Sacrifices by Cheparinov — a dedicated, exercise-led manual on the pawn sacrifice. Included on editorial judgment: published in June 2025, it is too new to have built up a body of reviews.
- Mastering Positional Sacrifices by van Delft — still recommended as a structured course rather than as new material: many of its examples will be familiar.
- Beyond Material by Kuljasevic — the one book here that treats sacrifice as part of the wider question of what material is worth.
For beginners — start with tactics first
None of these six is recommended for beginners — that is a finding about the books, not an oversight. Start with tactics: our guide to the best chess tactics books covers that ground.
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