🎓 A1Learner
🔍
0 of 43 lessons completed

The Greek Gift

The Greek gift is a bishop sacrifice on h7. The bishop captures the pawn in front of a castled king, and the knight and queen follow.

The Greek gift sacrifice

The bishop on c2 captures the pawn on h7 and gives check. The king captures the bishop. The knight jumps from f3 to g5 and gives check. The queen is ready to join the attack.

FEN: 6k1/7p/8/8/8/5N2/2B5/6K1 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . k . 8
7 . . . . . . . p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . N . . 3
2 . . B . . . . . 2
1 . . . . . . K . 1
  a b c d e f g h

The Greek gift ends in mate

The bishop captures the pawn on h7 and gives check. The king captures the bishop. The knight jumps to g5 and gives check. The king moves to g8, and the queen moves to h5. The pawn moves to g6, and the queen moves to h7. The rook on f1 covers f8, and the knight on g5 defends the queen.

FEN: 6k1/6pp/8/8/8/5N2/2B5/3Q1RK1 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . . . k . 8
7 . . . . . . p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . N . . 3
2 . . B . . . . . 2
1 . . . Q . R K . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • The Greek gift sacrifices a bishop on h7.
  • The king usually captures the bishop.
  • A knight then jumps to g5 and gives check.
  • The king must move, often to g8.
  • The queen then joins the attack on h5.
  • The attack threatens mate on h7.
  • The Greek gift needs a knight that can reach g5 and a queen that can reach h5.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

White to move. Which move is the Greek gift sacrifice on h7?