The Scotch Gambit f7 trick is lesson 10 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 2: gambits, an opening course suited to players rated around 1200 (improving players). Scotch Gambit, C44. White gives a knight and a bishop on f7 and wins them back with a queen fork. It has 4 interactive exercises: 4 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
This is the Scotch Gambit. White gave the d4 pawn for quick play. Black's knight on h6 guards f7, but the bishop on c5 has no guard. About 1 million rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
Nxf7! The knight takes on f7. If Nxf7, Bxf7 check pulls the king out, and Qh5 check forks the king and the bishop on c5.
After Nxf7, Bxf7 check, Kxf7 and Qh5 check, Black blocks with g6, and Qxc5 wins the bishop back. White has won back the gambit pawn, and Black's king cannot castle. The engines call it equal.
Recap.
In the Scotch Gambit, Black's bishop on c5 can be loose.
Nxf7 and Bxf7 check pull the king out.
Qh5 check forks the king and the bishop on c5.
White wins back the gambit pawn.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Scotch Gambit, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. The bishop on c5 has no guard. Find a sacrifice on f7 that ends with a queen fork.
Black guards f7 with the queen instead of Nh6. Take on f7 anyway.
Black does not take the knight. Black checks with Bb4 first. Block with the c-pawn.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Scotch Gambit, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers Nh6. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. The bishop on c5 has no guard. Find a sacrifice on f7 that ends with a queen fork. That is the f7 trick. Both pieces come back with Qxc5, and the gambit pawn is won back. Bxf7 check first works the same way.
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