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Plural
desperadoes
1
a person who is reckless, lawless, and often involved in criminal activities
- The sheriff warned the townsfolk to be on the lookout for the desperado who had been causing trouble in the region.
- The desperado's wanted poster was plastered across the town, offering a reward for any information leading to his capture.
Synonyms:
2
a piece that is sacrificed with the aim of achieving tactical gains, especially in a losing or desperate situation
In chess, a desperado is a piece, usually a pawn, knight, or rook, that is about to be captured but is sacrificed in a way that forces the opponent to deal with it, often causing them to make a less favorable move. The desperado piece is typically used to create a distraction or to open up a tactical opportunity, even though it will ultimately be lost. The goal is to use the piece’s position to gain a strategic advantage, like capturing an important opponent’s piece or setting up a more powerful attack.