Annotated chess game: A very old game

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ANNOTATED GAME

A very old game
Gioachino Greco vs. Amateur
Annotated by: last_archimedean

(1564)
Chess opening: Guatemala defence (B00)

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This gorgeous miniature was played close to four centuries ago! Yet thanks to chess notation, we can enjoy it just as much today. We don't know the exact date it was played, but it was included in Greco's book published in 1619.

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7	Black counters Greco's center thrusts with a Q-side fianchetto.



3. Bd3 f5	A double attack on the White KP.



4. exf5	Greco takes the simplest way out, simply capturing the attacking Pawn.



4... Bxg2	Black equalizes the material and threatens to capture the White KR.



5. Qh5+	Greco never was one to be passive. With his KR attacked, he launches a counterstrike!



5... g6	Forced.



6. fxg6	Threatening PxP dis ch or P-N7 dis ch, followed by Queening.
	2 comments nuntar (1702) on 05-Apr-10: More precisely, since the threat is P-N7 mate, White need not queen last_archimedean (1564) on 05-Apr-10: If Black were merely to create a flight square with a move such as P-K3, then P-N7 dis ch followed by PxR (Q) would be devastating.


6... Nf6	Black counters by threatening to take Greco's checking Q off the board in case of a discovery.



7. gxh7+	Greco goes through with his plan.
	2 comments nuntar (1702) on 05-Apr-10: Very sensibly, he's not tempted to take the rook. Although after 7. P-N7 dis ch NxQ 8. PxR(Q) BxR 9. QxP White still wins -- Black must defend against the mate and abandon the knight, leaving White with a winning advantage. White can also win in this line by 9. B-KR6, come to think of it. ruachessnut2 (1200) on 05-Apr-10: Greco took the pawn because only the pawn prevents mate in 1.


7... Nxh5	Black follows through with his counter. But...



8. Bg6#	Greco goes to his backup plan and finishes the game beautifully!