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50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players. Buy on Amazon! US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | NL | AU

My book, “50+2 Chess Quick Wins: Tactical ideas for exciting chess for beginner players” was published and released on Amazon in October 2023. This is the nineth video and article of a series that will cover the first section of the book, that explains tactical ideas and themes that underlie many quick win games!

The Greek Gift Sacrifice is a specific combination attack pattern on the h-pawn, after the opponent has castled kingside. It combines the tactical ideas of attacking down the h-file, beginning with sacrificing a bishop to punch a hole in that file. This also draws the king onto the file. Then, the knight and queen combine in an attack on the opponent’s king, typically winning tempo with check on every move, and sometimes resulting in checkmate! Depending on the position, it is not uncommon that checkmate can only be avoided through massive material loss by the opponent.

Greek Gift Sacrifices are a staple tactical pattern of middlegames and not specifically quick wins. However, this pattern can be devastatingly effective in the early middlegame if the opponent is relatively underdeveloped, especially if you steer the game towards a position where it is available.

The Greek Gift Sacrifice has several prerequisites:

• The opponent’s king has castled kingside.
• You can capture the opponent’s h-pawn with your bishop with check.
• You have greater control of g5 (as White) or g4 (as Black) than your opponent.
• You can attack with your knight to g5 (as White) or g4 (as Black) to deliver a check.
• Your queen can join the attack, typically on the h-file.

This sample game that emerges from Owen’s Defense is a good example. I’ve highlighted the pieces that join the attack, the bishop pair, king’s knight, and queen in blue to provide a focus on the developing possibility of an attack from the beginning of the game.

[Event "Tactical pattern"]
[White "Greek Gift Sacrifice"]
[Black "Black"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3q1rk1/5ppp/8/3p4/3P4/3B1N2/4QPPP/2B2RK1 w - - 0 1"]

1. Bxh7+ $1 {[%c_arrow
h7g8;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,h7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false][%c_effect
h7;square;h7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Greek Gift Sacrifice $1} 1... Kxh7 2.
Ng5+ {[%c_arrow
g5h7;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false]} 2... Kg8 3. Qh5
{[%c_arrow
h5h7;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false] Threatening
checkmate $1 In this position, Black's best move is to trade their queen for
White's knight to blunt the immediate mate threat.} *


[Event "Game 1"]
[White "Greek Gift Sacrifice"]
[Black "Owen's Defense"]
[Result "1-0"]

{[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
1. e4 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]
The pieces involved in the Greek Gift Sacrifice will be highlighted in Blue}
1... b6 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
2. d4 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
2... Bb7 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
3. Nc3 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
3... e6 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
4. Bd3 {[%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
4... Bb4 {[%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false]}
5. Nf3 {[%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]}
5... Bxc3+ {[%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]}
6. bxc3 {[%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]}
6... Ne7 {[%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]}
7. O-O {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]}
7... O-O {[%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;ctrl;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]}
8. e5 {[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false]}
8... Nd5 $2 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false]
This is a critical mistake that now allows the Greek Gift Sacrifice $1} 9. Bxh7+ $3
{[%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false][%c_effect
h7;square;h7;type;Brilliant;persistent;true]} 9... Kxh7 {[%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
10. Ng5+ $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
c1g5;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false]} 10... Kg8
{[%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,g5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false]}
11. Qh5 {[%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false,g5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false][%c_arrow
h5h7;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false]} 11... Re8
{Black tries to avoid checkmate, but it's unavoidable now $1} 12. Qxf7+ Kh8 13.
Qh5+ Kg8 14. Qh7+ Kf8 15. Qh8+ Ke7 16. Qxg7# {[%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner,e7;square;e7;type;CheckmateBlack][%c_arrow
g7e7;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,g7f8;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,g7f6;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false,e5d6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false]
Checkmate $1} 1-0