Chess tactics
What Is the Greek Gift Sacrifice in Chess?
The Greek gift is a bishop sacrifice on h7, or h2 for Black, against a castled king. After Bxh7+ Kxh7, the attacker usually follows with Ng5+ and Qh5, bringing knight and queen against the exposed king for a fast mating attack.
Example
1. Bxh7+ Kxh7 2. Ng5+ Kg8 3. Qh5
The classic pattern. After Bxh7+ Kxh7 Ng5+ Kg8 Qh5, White threatens Qh7 mate and the attack is decisive. If the king goes to g6 or h6 instead, Qg4 keeps the attack going, and the engine rates White as winning in every line.
When the Greek gift works
The standard ingredients are a bishop on d3 aimed at h7, a knight that can reach g5, a queen that can reach h5, and a pawn on e5 that keeps a black knight off f6. Black's kingside should have few defenders, and no black piece should control g5, such as a bishop on e7 or a queen on d8 with an open diagonal.
Even with all the ingredients, it must be calculated. The critical defenses are the king moves to g6 and h6, which avoid the quick mate on h7 and ask whether White has enough follow-up.
How the attack goes
After Kg8, Qh5 threatens Qh7 mate, and Black usually has to give the king f8 by moving the rook, which lets the queen take on f7 or chase the king into the open. After Kg6 or Kh6, White usually brings the queen to g4 or d3 to keep up the pressure, and the h-pawn can join with h4 and h5 to drive the king further out.
How to defend
Keep a knight on f6 or be ready to bring one there, keep control of g5 with a bishop or the queen, and avoid letting a white pawn settle on e5. If the sacrifice comes, compare taking it with declining by Kh8, and calculate the king walk to g6 before automatically retreating to g8.
Common questions
Why is it called the Greek gift?
The name refers to the Trojan horse from Greek legend: a gift that turns out to be a trap. The bishop looks free, but taking it opens the king to attack.
Can Black play the Greek gift?
Yes. The mirror image is Bxh2+ against White's castled king, followed by Ng4+ and Qh4.
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