The Greek Gift Sacrifice
Bxh7+ Kxh7 Ng5+ — the most famous attacking pattern in chess.
Colle System London System French Defense Any position with Bd3 + Nf3 vs Kg8
Key Positions
Classic setup: Bd3 + Nf3 + e3 — is the sacrifice on?
After Bxh7+ Kxh7 Ng5+: the queen swings to h5
Conditions for the sacrifice: Bg5 pins Nf6 — the h7 pawn is only defended by the king
Plans
Pattern Recognition
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Bxh7+!The sacrifice requires: Bd3 on the h7 diagonal, Nf3 ready to go to g5, and a queen that can reach h5. -
Kxh7 Ng5+After the king takes, the knight jumps to g5 with check, opening the h-file. -
Qh5The queen arrives with devastating threats — Qxf7, Qh7#, or Nxe6 are all in the air. - Check the conditions: no ...Nf6 blocking g5, no ...Bg4 defending h5, king can't escape to g6 easily.
How to Execute
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...Kg8 (decline)Don't take! After ...Kg8, White has sacrificed a bishop for just two pawns. -
...Kg6Sometimes the king can run to g6 and survive — if the queen has no quick route to h5. - Keep a knight on f6 and a pawn on h6 — these are the best defenders against the Greek Gift.
- Watch for the sacrifice whenever your opponent has Bd3 + Nf3 and your king is on g8.
Key Principle
The Greek Gift requires three pieces working together: bishop sacrifices, knight delivers check, queen finishes. If any one is missing, the sacrifice probably doesn't work.
Test Your Knowledge
Question 1 of 3
What three pieces coordinate in the Greek Gift sacrifice?