can someone explain the use of bxf7? I thought the whole point of white's play was to get active pieces vs non-active pieces of black. But what good are those pieces if you just sac them like this?
Sure black doesnt develop, but neither does white (very much the contrary...)
It is very aggressive, and (probably) unsound for white. Over time, some gifted tacticans have played this, mostly against weaker opponents, as a surprise. Frank Marshall did play it 100 years ago from time to time. A more recent example: Shirov (today n°7 in the world) vs. Lapinsky, a Polish player (around 2200 FIDE):
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[White "Shirov,Alexei "]
[Black "Lapinski,J "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C37"]
[1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. O-O gxf3 6. Qxf3 Qf6 7. e5 Qxe5 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. d4 Qxd4+ 10. Be3 Qf6 11. Bxf4 Ke8 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Nd5 Qg6 14. Rae1+ Be7 15. Bd6 Kd8 16. Qf8+ Bxf8 17. Bxc7+ 1-0
Originally posted by konhenHave a look at the games posted earlier by Mephisto 2 and I. In particular look at how I was destroyed as black by this double piece sacrifice by a prepared weaker opponent. I thought I had an "easy" win and didn't take things seriously enough until too late.
can someone explain the use of bxf7? I thought the whole point of white's play was to get active pieces vs non-active pieces of black. But what good are those pieces if you just sac them like this?
Sure black doesnt develop, but neither does white (very much the contrary...)
Originally posted by Mephisto2I really like that game Shirov vs Lapinsy
It is very aggressive, and (probably) unsound for white. Over time, some gifted tacticans have played this, mostly against weaker opponents, as a surprise. Frank Marshall did play it 100 years ago from time to time. A more recent example: Shirov (today n°7 in the world) vs. Lapinsky, a Polish player (around 2200 FIDE):
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[White "Shiro ...[text shortened]... Bxf4 Ke8 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Nd5 Qg6 14. Rae1+ Be7 15. Bd6 Kd8 16. Qf8+ Bxf8 17. Bxc7+ 1-0
Brilliant
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. O-O gxf3
6. Qxf3 Qf6 7. e5 Qxe5 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. d4.
White must play aggressively now, it is win or bust! Although d4 gives up another pawn the attack is more important and every move that attacks the queen gains a tempo whilst any timidity and delay will result in certain defeat . If QXd4 there follows Be3! developing the B and attacking the Q again, getting another piece out and gaining more tempii.
Originally posted by Mephisto2Also, it seems that, after 9. d4, the f4 pawn will fall.
c3 looks too slow. No time to worry about a pawn: 9.d4. Despite the fact that black can take that pawn with check, it is important to get that bishop out immediately (for instance Qxd5+ Be3 is also with tempo). This is a game for whiteplayers who are fearless.