Greco's rook sacrifice is lesson 2 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 3: king hunts, an opening course suited to players rated around 1500 (club players). Italian Game, Greco Gambit, C54. White gives a rook to keep the black king in the centre. 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 is the Greco Gambit in the Italian Game. Black took two pawns and your knight, and now attacks your rook on a1. Black's king is still on e8. Do not save the rook. About 320,000 rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
Ba3! The bishop covers f8, so Black cannot castle. Black can take the rook on a1, but the king stays in the middle.
After d5 and Bb5, Bxa1 takes the rook. Then Re1 check hits the stuck king. The engines say White is winning.
Recap.
In the Greco Gambit, Bxc3 grabs too much.
Ba3 stops Black from castling.
The rook on a1 does not matter.
Re1 check follows on the open e-file.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Greco Gambit, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black's bishop attacks your rook on a1. Forget the rook. Keep the black king in the centre.
Black grabs the rook at once. The king is still on e8. Check it on the open e-file.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Greco Gambit, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers Bxc3. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black's bishop attacks your rook on a1. Forget the rook. Keep the black king in the centre. Ba3! The king cannot castle now. The rook on a1 is a small price for a winning attack.
chessGM