Fischer's queen offer is lesson 10 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 3: king hunts, an opening course suited to players rated around 1500 (club players). Evans Gambit, C52. Fischer offers his queen, and a bishop mates on f6. It has 3 interactive exercises: 3 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 position comes from a friendly game Bobby Fischer played against Reuben Fine in New York in 1963. The Evans Gambit has torn Black's king side open. The black king stands on d8, and your bishop on g7 eyes f6. This exact position is rare on Lichess, but the idea comes up again and again.
Qg3! The queen offers herself. Black's queen on h4 guards f6, and Qg3 pulls her away.
After Qxg3, Bf6 is checkmate. The rook on e1 covers the e-file, and the bishop covers d8 and e7.
Recap.
In the Evans, an open centre makes every white piece strong.
With the king on d8, f6 is the mating square.
Qg3 pulls the black queen away from f6.
If Qxg3, Bf6 is mate.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Evans Gambit, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black's queen on h4 guards f6. Offer your queen to pull her away.
Black does not take the queen. Black blocks the e-file with Qe7. Take the queen.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Evans Gambit, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers Kd8. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black's queen on h4 guards f6. Offer your queen to pull her away. That is Fischer's queen offer. If the queen takes, Bf6 is mate. If not, White wins the queen.
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