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One of the tactics that I’ve first learnt and can now use with some confidence is the bishop capture of the f-pawn, often a sacrifice, with check. I dub this tactic the “Spanish Inquisition”: my bishop aggressively and unapologetically smashing into the opponent’s defences, asking an immediate question of the opponent’s king, often while consolidating power for my own forces!

Depending on your position, it can often be quite a binary move – a blunder or a brilliancy. What this means is that the tactic can often be unexpected and can be a strong tactical resource. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

This tactic is often most devastating when the f-file is semi-open – for instance, in Vienna Gambit lines, which is where I’ve practiced this. It is available when playing with the black pieces in “reversed” Vienna Gambit type lines, such as in this game of the Jaenisch Gambit against the Ruy Lopez Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5).

In this game, the f-file becomes semi-open as I trade away my f-pawn (4… fxe4), and then lure away White’s king’s knight on f3 through a trade (8… Nd4 9. Nxd4 Bxd4).

My critical move came on move 10. At this point, the evaluation is technically equal [0.00]. We’re both in normal positions, with good development towards the end of the opening. However, I can now strike with (10. Bxf2+) – my bishop captures White’s f-pawn, giving a check. Stockfish rates this move a brilliancy.

White is technically equal but has only a single move that maintains the equality and it’s a little hard to accept. White must forgo taking the bishop and play Ke2. All other moves give a major advantage to Black. The second-best move, in fact, is for White to take the bishop and seemingly fall into the trap!

In this game, my opponent rated at 1400 probably heuristically knew that they couldn’t take the bishop but couldn’t find the correct move. They played a blunder [-11] with Kd2. My knight leaps forward with check, revealing a devastating fork and discovered attack on White’s bishop, and White resigns! GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/71988104479

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.03.08"]
[Round "-"]
[White "ThanhColor"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[CurrentPosition "r1bq1rk1/pppp2pp/8/1B1Np1B1/4n3/7P/PPPK1bP1/R2Q3R w - -"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C63"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Ruy-Lopez-Opening-Jaenisch-Gambit-4.d3-fxe4-5.dxe4-Nf6-6.Nc3"]
[UTCDate "2023.03.08"]
[UTCTime "04:15:38"]
[WhiteElo "1375"]
[BlackElo "1421"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "04:15:38"]
[EndDate "2023.03.08"]
[EndTime "04:18:33"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/71988104479"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/68886776.ba890ebc.50x50o.356c83efb9fe.jpeg"]
[WhiteCountry "149"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.50x50o.c8c8e6b7296c.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:29:59.9]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:29:54.2]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 0:29:59.2]}
2... Nc6 {[%clk 0:29:52.3]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 0:29:58.3]} 3... f5 {[%clk 0:29:50.8]
Ruy Lopez Opening: Jaenisch Gambit} 4. d3 {[%clk 0:29:47.1] Best response to the
Jaenisch Gambit} 4... fxe4 {[%clk 0:29:49.3]} 5. dxe4 {[%clk 0:29:42.8]} 5...
Nf6 {[%clk 0:29:44.2]} 6. Nc3 {[%clk 0:29:40.7] All book moves up to this point
[0.00]} 6... Bc5 {[%clk 0:29:38.5]} 7. h3 {[%clk 0:29:32.4]} 7... O-O {[%clk
0:29:37]} 8. Bg5 {[%clk 0:29:21.7]} 8... Nd4 $6 {[%clk 0:29:22.4][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d6;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false] A relative
inaccuracy, but many players with the White pieces will trade knights. That's
what I'm hoping for, which opens up the f-file [+0.45]} 9. Nxd4 {[%clk
0:29:04.6][%c_arrow
b5c4;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] White takes -
technically okay but I now have some trappy lines [0.00]} 9... Bxd4 {[%clk
0:29:20.7]} 10. Nd5 {[%clk 0:28:50.7]} 10... Bxf2+ $3 {[%clk 0:29:08.8][%c_effect
f2;square;f2;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] The tactic of this video: it's
often available to sacrifice the bishop through a capture of the f-pawn with
check. This was rated as a brilliant move by the chess.com analytic cloud engine
at depth 30 (Stockfish 15 NNUE)} 11. Kd2 $4 {[%clk 0:28:26.5][%c_arrow
e1e2;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false][%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Blunder;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] White perhaps
knew they couldn't capture the bishop, but moved the king to the wrong square,
resulting in a game ending blunder [-11]. White had only a single move that
maintains equality, which was Ke2.} 11... Nxe4+ {[%clk 0:28:55.8][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Winner,d2;square;d2;type;ResignWhite] White realises their
mistake and resigns; GG $1} 0-1