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A week ago, I published a video and article on how I had lost some confidence in my chess, having gone through a losing streak. I’d like to give thanks to all of you who connected with my content and gave words of encouragement! I have taken a bit of a break from chess over the past week and have felt a bit better.

I think this game is a good juxtaposition. In that last match, I had a completely winning position in a Greek Gift Sacrifice but felt like I was losing. This match is almost the opposite! I technically had a LOSING position in an unsound Greek Gift Sacrifice, but the mojo and momentum of the aggressive romantic attack carried the game to a win!

Let’s have a look at this game in a bit of depth as it gives some insights on how a Greek Gift Sacrifice attack in practice, especially in thinking through what is objectively accurate and inaccurate, and what might psychologically be good and bad tactically.

The game starts off with a pretty normal Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Paulsen Formation (1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 a6). At the intermediate level (my opponent was rated in the 1400s in rapid), this is probably one of the most positions reached in the Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted. One of the advantages of the Smith-Morra Gambit is that evaluation-wise, White is almost equal, and the compensation thus is in quicker development and better position in the opening. Basically, it is relatively easier to play as White compared to Black. Indeed, at the beginning of the Sicilian Defense (1… c5), White has a statistical disadvantage to Black in terms of win ratio on the Lichess community database of lower-rated games of blitz and rapid at 47% vs 49% (~ 300 million games), but this is completely reversed at the Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted position at 52% vs 44% with White having a commanding win ratio advantage!

After (7… b5) and played (8. Bd3), which Stockfish 16 NNUE at high depth identifies as the most accurate move. The evaluation is still slightly in Black’s favour but is approaching equality at around [0.00 to -0.05]. The much more common move (according to the Lichess community database of lower-rated games of blitz and rapid) is (8. Bb3), but then Black has (8… Na5), which I find kind of annoying. What was my plan? Having had my bishop kicked from the c4 position, and with Black’s f7 pawn no longer available as a target with Black’s e-pawn on e6, I wanted to set up a potential Greek Gift Sacrifice attack, or to make it available!

On move 12, Black castles kingside and so my earlier strategic manoeuvre paid off! To make it work, I needed to open the diagonal for my light square bishop on d3 by moving my e-pawn forward, and to open the diagonal for my queen on d1 by moving my knight on e2. These are the next two moves I make.

Black didn’t see the tactic coming. It’s interesting that in this game, the Greek Gift Sacrifice is technically inaccurate as Black could defend against it. On move 14, Black’s capture of my e-pawn (14… Nxe5) is an inaccuracy (one that I was baiting) as Nd5 is better. This opens the diagonal for Black’s queen to defend the critical g5 square.

However, what neither my opponent nor I saw in game is that Black’s knight on e5 defends the g4 square. This means that after the first two steps of the Greek Gift Sacrifice (15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Ng5+), Black could potentially prevent the necessary third step by moving their king forward to g6 or h6, which stops my queen from infiltrating and threatening mate. This was a conceptual insight that I hadn’t quite appreciated until analysing this game, and it’s one to be mindful of!

Black played the human (16… Kg8), which is a blunder. My queen flies to the h-file (17. Qh5) and immediately threatens checkmate. Black finds their only good move with a bishop sacrifice, which the chess.com engine rates as a brilliancy! However, this ended up being only a delaying move as Black needed to find the follow up with that gain of tempo that would stop the mating attack. They did not find it. On move 20 after I played (20. Ng5), Black pondered the position for a while, and then opted to resign. The best move for Black is to trade their queen for my knight, something that is difficult to contemplate. GG!

The big takeaway from this game is understanding the requirements and tactics that underlie the Greek Gift Sacrifice. It’s a deadly weapon in its accurate form, and still very potent psychologically even when it’s inaccurate!

Game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/94216324999

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.11.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Galadriel97"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "B21"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Sicilian-Defense-Smith-Morra-Accepted-Paulsen-Formation-7.O-O-b5"]
[UTCDate "2023.11.20"]
[UTCTime "10:48:26"]
[WhiteElo "1313"]
[BlackElo "1406"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "10:48:26"]
[EndDate "2023.11.20"]
[EndTime "10:57:53"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/94216324999"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[BlackCountry "54"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:10]} 1... c5 {[%clk 0:15:06.9]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:15:16.9]} 2...
cxd4 {[%clk 0:15:14.5]} 3. c3 {[%clk 0:15:25.9]} 3... dxc3 {[%clk 0:15:20.7]
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted [-0.1]} 4. Nxc3 {[%clk 0:15:35.1]}
4... Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:18.6]} 5. Bc4 {[%clk 0:15:44.1]} 5... e6 {[%clk 0:15:26.1]}
6. Nf3 {[%clk 0:15:50]} 6... a6 {[%clk 0:15:31.7] Paulsen Formation - a very
common position reached in the Smith-Morra [-0.1]} 7. O-O {[%clk 0:15:57.8]}
7... b5 {[%clk 0:15:40]} 8. Bd3 {[%clk 0:15:21.2] Black still has a slight
advantage but the position is starting to approach equality at high depth
analysis [-0.05 to 0.00]} 8... Bb4 {[%clk 0:15:45][%c_arrow
g8e7;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false]} 9. Bd2 {[%clk
0:15:11.4][%c_arrow
a2a3;keyPressed;none;from;a2;opacity;0.8;to;a3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;a3;persistent;false]} 9... Nge7 {[%clk
0:15:51.1]} 10. a3 {[%clk 0:15:17.9][%c_arrow
e4e5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]} 10... Ba5 {[%clk
0:15:51.9][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
b4d6;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false]} 11. Ne2 $6
{[%clk 0:15:13][%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e4e5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] This was a bit
inaccurate [-0.2 $37 -0.8].  In this position, taking the e5 square and the
central space is best.} 11... Bc7 {[%clk 0:15:56.8]} 12. Bc3 {[%clk 0:14:49.3]}
12... O-O {[%clk 0:16:01.9]} 13. Ned4 {[%clk 0:14:15.4] In this position, I saw
a potential Greek Gift Sacrifice...} 13... Bb7 {[%clk 0:15:26.4]} 14. e5 $6
{[%clk 0:14:23.8][%c_arrow
d4c6;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] My Greek Gift
Sacrifice has now been set up. Stockfish calls this move an inaccruacy [-1.4] as
technically, the tactic doesn't work if Black anticipates the attack and plays
correctly.} 14... Nxe5 $6 {[%clk 0:15:10.2][%c_arrow
e7d5;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] This is an
inaccuracy by Black [-0.9]. Nd5 is best as it opens the dark square diagonal for
Black's queen, defending the g5 square which stops the Greek Gift Sacrifice.
Black's knight on e5 ALSO prevents the attack in a less direct manner, but
requires Black to play an unintuitive move in the sequence...} 15. Bxh7+ $5
{[%clk 0:14:32.1][%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Interesting;persistent;true] The
beginning of a Greek Gift Sacrifice  $1 In this game, this is technically a
mistake [-2.3], but only if Black sees the refutation.} 15... Kxh7 {[%clk
0:15:11.3]} 16. Ng5+ $5 {[%clk 0:14:40.6][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Doubling down  $1 Black must
advance their king forward to g6 or h6 to capture the advantage. In doing so,
this prevents the third step of the Greek Gift Sacrifice Attack, which is the
infiltration of the queen.} 16... Kg8 $4 {[%clk 0:15:12.7][%c_arrow
h7g6;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false,h7h6;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false,h6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Blunder;persistent;true] ... however, this is difficult to
see. Although Stockfish evaluates this as [-1], Black at best will need to lose
their light square bishop, or potentially hang checkmate  $1} 17. Qh5 $1 {[%clk
0:14:49.7][%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 17... Be4 $3
{[%clk 0:14:53.9][%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] Black
finds the only move that avoids catastrophic material loss or checkmate, but the
bishop is clean lost} 18. Nxe4 {[%clk 0:14:36.3]} 18... Nf5 $4 {[%clk
0:14:00.2][%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f7f6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false,e7d5;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]
This blunders a losing position [+5.3]. The best direct move is f6, defending
the critical g5 square from White's knight. An alternative is Nd5 to then play
Nf6, defending the h7 square from a mating attack.} 19. Nxf5 {[%clk 0:13:58.6]}
19... exf5 {[%clk 0:14:10.1]} 20. Ng5 $1 {[%clk 0:14:06.1][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true,g1;square;g1;type;Winner,g8;square;g8;type;ResignBlack]
In this position, the best move for Black is to immediately trade their queen
for my knight to nerf the attack. Checkmate is avoided with Re8, but Black
actually ends up worse off with the White queen infiltrating, winning material,
and hunting the king. Black, emotionally damaged, resigns. GG  $1} 1-0