Greco's Sacrifice in the age of computers (or "Why won't my computer just let me win?")

Submitted by Astrocloud on Mon, 12/01/2008 at 11:57am.

The diagram to the left represents a classic bishop sacrifice sometimes called the greek gift. The theme varies but usually it involves a bishop sac and a queen and knight attack against the castled king. I am taking this example from Vuković 's excellent book "The Art of Attack in Chess" and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it. This sacrifice is an excellent learning tool and I have won a few games with it. To be certain Vuković givesvariations for the defender which all lead to his downfall. (2. ...bxg5 3. hxg5+ kg6 4. Qh5+ kf5 5. Qh3+ kg6 6. Qh7# and 2. ...kg6 3. h5+ Nxe6+ (takes queen) (3. ...kf4 g4#))

The problem occurs when I try it against my "helpless" computer opponent.

Computers won't simply let you win after the bishop snags the pawn on h7. Consider the next diagram. The computer doesn't take the sacrifice and fights it out. The easy win that I was hoping for turns into a longer struggle and against a computer opponent rated (at least) a thousand points over me -a probable loss.

So where does that leave us? I'm not going to throw out Vuković's book. Against a computer... if it doesn't take my generous offer of a bishop -then take the pawn and run.

» posted in Tactics

| 461 reads | 6 comments |

1 vote:

Comments:

by ggeetg - 14 days ago
Bhilai India

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 5

VERY GOOD AND FUNNY TOO!!!

THANX

by Astrocloud - 31 days ago
Massachusetts United States

Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 20

"What happens if...

1. Bxh7+, Kxh7

2. Ng5+, then Bxg5

3 Qh5+, Bh6

4 Bxh6, gxh6 and whites attack is over"

It ends in checkmate.

by RobertTG - 31 days ago
Australia

Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 92

What happens if...

1. Bxh7+, Kxh7

2. Ng5+, then Bxg5

3 Qh5+, Bh6

4 Bxh6, gxh6 and whites attack is over

by selwyn827 - 33 days ago
Clarkston, MI United States

Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 1

Against your helpless computer: after 8 Ng5, g6, traps the bishop. The sharpest reply is 9 Bxg6( if youcan give up a bishop for a pawn for an attack, why not for two pawns, if the attack fizzles out then it won't be as bad). This threatens: a) mate with 10 Qh5+, Kg8 11 Qh7++, or b)10 Bf7, Rxf7 Nxf7 forks the king and queen. Let's look at these possibilities: 9...fxg6 10 h5 (forces opening of the h file for the queen and rook) if 10...Bxg5 then 11 hxg6+, Kg7 12 Qh5.

9...Bxg5 then white has a choice between 10 hxg5+ opens the h file or 10 Bxg5 adding another attacker.

by Sylvo - 33 days ago
Trinidad/Tobago

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 5

In Greco's time it would have been unsporting not to accept a sacrifice. The way to refute a sacrifice was to accept it!

by musiquismo - 35 days ago
df Mexico

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 152

well if you consider that taking the bishop is a blunder (since it leads to checkmate) i guess is quite easy to understand that a computer dosent take it, so, yes, the best move in that position is to just take the pawn and run, its still a tangile advantage, you reck his kingside, and you got a pawn.

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