Chess

The Greek Gift

Today I enjoyed Chess Club after school. First, I played Carson. I was up a pawn right after the fourth move, and I retained that advantage until the end. I lost two of my pawns and was just about to promote my third when it was time for the lesson. I knew I was probably going to win because his king was a long way from his other pawn, which I could take easily with my rook. Also, my pawn, which was two squares from promoting, would force the rook to take it, and I would be a rook up, and checkmate. After the match, we had a lesson on the Greek Gift. This is basically a Bishop sacrifice that gets rid of an essential shield pawn, achieving checkmate. After Bxh7, Kxh7, Ng5+, Kh7, Qh5, Re8, Qxf7+, Kh8, and Qxe8#. There were many examples of this, and other variations of the line, but it all ends up in checkmate or a major advantage. I think it is an amazing strategy. It is also flawless, easy to remember, and quick. The only position in which it does not work is when the knight on d7 and pawn on e6 are gone. After king takes h7, knight check, king escape, and queen moving out, the bishop comes to the rescue on f5, blocking the checkmate square. All in all, I learned a lot during this session of Chess Club!