Queen sacrifices are the most delightful ones to watch on the chessboard as giving up the most powerful piece promises exciting combinations, culminating in checkmate. However, while sacrificing this big piece, calculation more than speculation is necessary.

Besides, one has to play actively and avoid getting into a defensive mode. Once a queen is sacrificed and there is no tangible benefit, then it is a downhill ride all the way.

There are very rare occasions when the queen is sacrificed intuitively.

In the game which follows, Black decides to sacrifice his queen for two pieces and pawn rather than retreat to the original square and face a bad position. However, the continuation by Black is rather weak as he misses a very good continuation and White easily gains the upper hand immediately.
White: Bu Xiangzhi (2565); Black: Oleg Selin (2327)

Petroff Memorial, 2000 King’s Indian Defence
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7.
The King’s Indian Defence which is one of the sharp responses to the Queen’s Gambit.
4. e4 d6 5. f3. The Sammisch Variation.
5. ... 0–0.
Castling on the King side. In this variation, White usually castles on the queen side.
6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Nge2. The usual line often played is 7. Nh3.
8. Qd2 a6 9. 0–0–0 Castling on the queen side. If 9. dxc5 dxc5 10. 0–0–0 Qc7 11. Nf4 e6.
9. ... Qa5 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nd5. White would have better prospects after 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Qxa5.
11. ... Nxd5.
An interesting move! Black is sacrificing his queen for two pieces and a pawn as the queen suddenly finds herself short of squares.
12. Qxa5 Nxe3 13. Rd3. If 13. Rc1 Nxc4 14. Rxc4 White is more or less forced to get rid of the knight (If 14. Qc3 Ndb6 and black is better) 14. ... bxc4 15. Nf4 Rb8 16. Bxc4 Nb6 17. Bxa6 Bxd4 18. b3 c4 19. Bxc8 Rfxc8 with an unclear position.
13. ... Nxc4 14. Qe1.

Diagram 1
14. ... Ndb6.
Making a mistake here. The correct move would have been 14. ... Rb8 15. h4 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17. Rd1 Na4 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. b3 cxb3 20. axb3 Be6 21. Qxa5 Bxb3 22. Rd2 Rfc8 23. Nxb3 Nc5 and Black is better.
15. Qc1 b4. Another wrong move. But now Black has already drifted and there are hardly any good moves at his disposal. If 15. ... cxd4. 16. Nxd4 Bd7 (16. ... Na4 17. b3) 17. Rd1 Rfc8 18. b3; 15. ... Bd7 16. b3 and White looks better.
16. Rd1 Bd7 17. Nf4 Nxb2. A knight sacrifice? For What? This is more desperation than calculation. If 17. ... Bb5 18. Nd5. 18. Kxb2. White has no hesitation in accepting the sacrifice.
18. ... Bh6 19. Ka1 Ba4 20. dxc5. Here, White can simply play 20. Re1 without any problems.
20. ... Rac8 21. cxb6. White now surprises Black by sacrificing his queen. With a commanding position White should not have any problem in winning the game even after sacrificing the queen now! If 21. Qd2 Bxd1 22. Bxa6 Rxc5 23. Rxd1 Ra8.
21. ... Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Bxf4 23. Bxa6. White could have also played another winning line with 23. Rc7 d5 24. Rxe7 Rb8 25. exd5 Rxb6 26. Bc4.
23. ... d5. If 23. ... Bxc1 24. Rxc1 Bd7 25. b7.
24. b7.
Advancing merrily without any problems.
24. ... dxe4 25. fxe4 Be5+ Black has a bishop pair and is desperately hoping that White should make a mistake now.
26. Kb1 Bc3 27. a3 Bc6 28. axb4 Bxe4+ 29. Ka2. White’s pawn is too advanced and Black’s rook cannot come into the attack.
29. ... Bxb4 30. Rc8. Infiltrating onto the eighth rank decisively. Black’s rook is virtually useless now.
30. ... Bd6 31. Re1 Bxg2 32. Rxe7. White’s pieces are now closing in on the King.
32. ... Bxh2 33. Bc4 and Black resigned now for the position is completely hopeless.

Diagram 2

Black to play and win
1. ... Qxf1+ 2. Kxf1 Bg5 3. Qxg5 Bh3+ 4. Kg1 Re1 checkmate.