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In this game my opponent with the white pieces played an uncommon open, Owen’s Defense (1. e4 b6), and I managed to get a pretty good advantage in the opening.

What I wanted to show and something that I learnt on analysis, is a middle game tactic with the Greek Gift Sacrifice. This is a general tactical theme that occurs across many games where the opponent has castled kingside. We sacrifice a bishop to capture the h7 pawn, and then follow up with an attack, typically with knight and queen.

Although I was aware of the Greek Gift Sacrifice previously, I had never really analysed it before. I saw the pattern on move 15 but couldn’t quite work out the sequence. On move 17, I had calculated a potential win and committed (17. Bxh7+)! However, Black didn’t meet my expectation by capturing the bishop (17… Kh8), which was a mistake with a forced mate [+M5] – but I didn’t see the line.

It’s very well worth your while learning the two patterns – I’ve highlighted it in the video and in the PGN!

By missing the line, Black gained an advantage [-0.6] but the complicated nature of the position results in Black making a couple of mistakes – first losing their queen in a fork, and then their rook in a fork. After inflicting emotional damage, Black resigned in the losing endgame on move 30. GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/79834852797

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.06.06"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "JanBB"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "B00"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Owens-Defense...4.Nf3-Bb4-5.Bd3-Nf6"]
[UTCDate "2023.06.06"]
[UTCTime "23:59:14"]
[WhiteElo "1424"]
[BlackElo "1389"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "23:59:14"]
[EndDate "2023.06.07"]
[EndTime "00:24:43"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/79834852797"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.50x50o.c8c8e6b7296c.jpg"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/6142293.60db6a1c.50x50o.984fadf53239.jpeg"]
[BlackCountry "112"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:05.4]} 1... b6 {[%clk 0:15:08.5] Owen's Defense - an uncommon
opening [+0.8]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:15:09]} 2... Bb7 {[%clk 0:15:18.1]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk
0:15:15.9]} 3... e6 {[%clk 0:15:20.8]} 4. Nf3 {[%clk 0:14:57]} 4... Bb4 {[%clk
0:15:28.6]} 5. Bd3 {[%clk 0:14:03.2]} 5... Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:28.8]} 6. e5 $6 {[%clk
0:14:01.9][%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3d2;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;d2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false] Apparently, all
previous moves were book moves of the Owen's Defense but this is an inaccuracy
[+0.3]} 6... Nd5 {[%clk 0:15:36.2]} 7. Bd2 {[%clk 0:13:29.7]} 7... Nc6 $2 {[%clk
0:15:27.3][%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d5c3;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false] A mistake [+1.6].
Forcing the trades and damaging my pawn structure is better.} 8. Nxd5 $1 {[%clk
0:13:37.4][%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 8... Bxd2+
{[%clk 0:15:35.1]} 9. Qxd2 {[%clk 0:13:41.7]} 9... exd5 {[%clk 0:15:43.8] And
White comes out of the trades better as Black had somewhat awkward doubled
d-pawns} 10. O-O {[%clk 0:13:38.2]} 10... Qe7 {[%clk 0:15:40.6]} 11. c3 {[%clk
0:13:37.2]} 11... Na5 {[%clk 0:15:41]} 12. b3 {[%clk 0:12:31.5]} 12... c5 {[%clk
0:15:15.4]} 13. Rae1 $6 {[%clk 0:11:52.3][%c_arrow
d4c5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish thought that this was an
inaccuracy [+1.7]. However, I wanted the light square diagonal closed to Black's
fianchetto bishop.} 13... O-O $2 {[%clk 0:15:15.9][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5c4;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] A mistake - castling
into a potential attack [+4.5]} 14. Qf4 $6 {[%clk 0:09:20.6][%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3g5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] Stockfish thinks that
the immediate knight advance to attack h7 is better [+2.6]} 14... c4 $2 {[%clk
0:14:45.5][%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f7f5;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false] A mistake as it
permits a Greek gift sacrifice $1 [+5]} 15. Bc2 {[%clk 0:08:26.1][%c_arrow
c2h7;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false] I didn't quite see
it, but a Greek gift sacrifice is possible here - this is an important tactical
pattern to know $1} ({Greek gift pattern} 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Ng5+ Kg8 17. Qh4
{[%c_arrow
h4h7;keyPressed;none;from;h4;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false] Black will have to
trade their queen for the knight to avoid checkmate $1}) 15... cxb3 {[%clk
0:14:38.9]} 16. axb3 {[%clk 0:08:33.7]} 16... Ba6 {[%clk 0:14:36.5]} 17. Bxh7+
{[%clk 0:08:40.4]} 17... Kh8 {[%clk 0:13:59.1][%c_arrow
g8h7;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false]} 18. Ng5 $1 {[%clk
0:08:39.9][%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 18... f6 $2
{[%clk 0:14:03.8][%c_arrow
g7g6;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [+M5]} 19. exf6 $2 {[%clk
0:08:20.1][%c_arrow
h7g6;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] I didn't see the mating line...}
({Another Greek gift pattern to know $1} 19. Bg6 {This was the} 19... fxg5 20. Qg4
{And checkmate is unavoidable $1}) 19... Qxf6 {[%clk 0:14:08.1]} 20. Qh4 $1 {[%clk
0:08:06.5][%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 20... Qh6
{[%clk 0:13:50.1]} 21. Qg4 $1 {[%clk 0:06:13.5][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 21... Bxf1 {[%clk 0:13:52.2]} 22.
Re7 $2 {[%clk 0:05:09.2][%c_arrow
h7c2;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish didn't like this move
[-0.6], suggesting that the attack had been effectively defended by Black and
that it was time to retreat. However, I decided to double-down $1} 22... Rae8 $2
{[%clk 0:11:04.6][%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] And in
this complex position, Black spends 3 minutes but makes a serious mistake
[+1.3]} 23. Rxe8 $1 {[%clk 0:04:55.2][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23... Rxe8 {[%clk 0:11:13]} 24.
Nf7+ $1 {[%clk 0:05:04.1][%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
24... Kxh7 {[%clk 0:11:20.5]} 25. Nxh6 {[%clk 0:05:13.6]} 25... Bd3 $2 {[%clk
0:11:07.2][%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e8e1;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false] A mistake [+4.3]} 26.
h4 $1 {[%clk 0:04:03.1][%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
26... gxh6 $2 {[%clk 0:11:03.6][%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake that hangs the rook [+6.5]}
27. Qxd7+ {[%clk 0:04:06.1][%c_arrow
d7e8;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,d7h7;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false]}
27... Kg8 {[%clk 0:10:46.5]} 28. Qxe8+ {[%clk 0:04:13.9]} 28... Kg7 {[%clk
0:10:52.5]} 29. Qe5+ {[%clk 0:03:55.5][%c_arrow
e5g7;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false,e5d5;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]}
29... Kf8 {[%clk 0:10:55.6]} 30. Qxd5 {[%clk 0:04:04.8][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner,f8;square;f8;type;ResignBlack] After inflicting
emotional damage, Black resigns $1 GG $1} 1-0