I just finished a game Game 6058677 where I had a chance to use the classic Bxh7 sacrifice; from what I've read and from what I've learned through experience, the Bxh7 sacrifice is most likely to work when
A) A Knight can check on g5 and a Queen can get to h5 (these are the usual prerequisites for the sacrifice)
B) A bishop exists on the c1-h6 diagonal
c) A pawn is on e5 to prevent a Knight from defending at f6
d) If white is not castled, a pawn on h4 defending g5, which would unleash a discovered check on h7 with the rook if the g5 knight were captured.
Does anyone have any good games where Bxh7 worked, or perhaps even better, games where Bxh7 did not work? Or perhaps any more ideas what makes the sacrifice successful and what makes it fail?
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Originally posted by chesskid001Game 5958192 This little trick works on 1900 rated players too 🙂
I just finished a game Game 6058677 where I had a chance to use the classic Bxh7 sacrifice; from what I've read and from what I've learned through experience, the Bxh7 sacrifice is most likely to work when
A) A Knight can check on g5 and a Queen can get to h5 (these are the usual prerequisites for the sacrifice)
B) A bishop exists on the c1-h6 ...[text shortened]... ot work? Or perhaps any more ideas what makes the sacrifice successful and what makes it fail?
Originally posted by KnightStalker47Interestingly enough, I got a 1600 USCF opponent in an OTB game ensnared in the exact same opening with a similar move order.
Game 5958192 This little trick works on 1900 rated players too 🙂
Originally posted by KnightStalker47This is where a pawn on h4 is handy if the rook is on h1- after 1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Ng5+, it is usually suicidal to play 2... Bxg5 because of 3.hxg5
Even if he did have it, it would have to be on e7 to prevent the sac.
Here is a game where h4 is useful; After move 7, I actually should've played e5 and then Bxh7, which would've worked
White- Me (1825)
Black- Opponent (1615)
G/60 OTB game
Had black accepted the sacrifice, the knight on g5 was safe- 11... Kxh7 12.Ng5+ Bxg5? 13.hxg5+ Kh8 (13...Kg6 14.Qh5+ Kf5 15.g4++) 14.Qh5 f6 (to stop the mate on h8) 15. g6! 1-0
Originally posted by chesskid001You left out one key ingredient.
I just finished a game Game 6058677 where I had a chance to use the classic Bxh7 sacrifice; from what I've read and from what I've learned through experience, the Bxh7 sacrifice is most likely to work when
A) A Knight can check on g5 and a Queen can get to h5 (these are the usual prerequisites for the sacrifice)
B) A bishop exists on the c1-h6 ...[text shortened]... ot work? Or perhaps any more ideas what makes the sacrifice successful and what makes it fail?
Black must have his queen's bishop locked in (by e6).
Long ago, I learned the hard way that Bxh7+ Kxh7, Ng5+ Kg8, Qh5 can be refuted by Bf5 (if it is available) !!!
The queen's bishop must not be able to defend the h7 square from queen invasion.
That is all I will say at this time (a very general rule).
(I have two games in progress with the classical bishop sacrifice right now !!!)
