Why is the name Greek gift? • page 1/2 • Off-Topic Discussion • lichess.org

Menneske

#1

I dont know i hope i know it,

Menneske

#2

Ohh... i know it is becouse the siege of troy!

i dont know

@Menneske Specifically, the Trojan Horse-- it was thought to be a gift to the Trojan people, but then a bunch of angry smelly Myceneans popped out and started stabbing everyone.
Like the Trojan Horse, the Greek Gift appears to be a piece sacrifice with no upside, but then a it opens up the door for an unstoppable attack.

One must wonder, however, why it's called a Greek gift when the bishop, rather than the piece that's shaped like a wooden horse, is the one sacrificed. Perhaps the Pierre de Castelnau Inquisition would be a more appropriate name.

@Menneske Specifically, the Trojan Horse-- it was thought to be a gift to the Trojan people, but then a bunch of angry smelly Myceneans popped out and started stabbing everyone. Like the Trojan Horse, the Greek Gift appears to be a piece sacrifice with no upside, but then a it opens up the door for an unstoppable attack. One must wonder, however, why it's called a Greek gift when the bishop, rather than the piece that's shaped like a wooden horse, is the one sacrificed. Perhaps the Pierre de Castelnau Inquisition would be a more appropriate name.

Menneske

#5

Yes the wooden horse!

matabichos26

#6

@clousems

And from this moment on, the whole World named this Bxh7 attack (formerly known as Greek Gift)
The Pierre de Castelnau Inquisition

@clousems And from this moment on, the whole World named this Bxh7 attack (formerly known as Greek Gift) The Pierre de Castelnau Inquisition

b-file edited

#7

From Wikipedia:

The etymology of the phrase "Greek gift" in this context is not entirely clear. The obvious explanation is that it alludes to the Trojan Horse, and specifically to Laocoön's famous timeo danaos et dona ferentes ("I fear the Greeks even [when they are] bringing gifts", Virgil's Aeneid II.49). The Oxford Companion to Chess, however, suggests that one explanation is that the sacrifice often occurred in Gioachino Greco's games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_gift_sacrifice

From Wikipedia: The etymology of the phrase "Greek gift" in this context is not entirely clear. The obvious explanation is that it alludes to the Trojan Horse, and specifically to Laocoön's famous timeo danaos et dona ferentes ("I fear the Greeks even [when they are] bringing gifts", Virgil's Aeneid II.49). The Oxford Companion to Chess, however, suggests that one explanation is that the sacrifice often occurred in Gioachino Greco's games. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_gift_sacrifice

matabichos26

#8

I thought it was on the h-file, not on the @b-file ... ;)

pawnedge

#9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O0ckKGpL78

A_0123456

edited

#10

@matabichos26 There is a greek gift sacrifice on the b-file:

https://lichess.org/bQVJRhKi#21

Bb5!! No check, just "quietly" bringing your bishop into opponent lines where it can be captured. And then you win after your opponent clearly doesn't blunder.

@matabichos26 There is a greek gift sacrifice on the b-file: https://lichess.org/bQVJRhKi#21 11. Bb5!! No check, just "quietly" bringing your bishop into opponent lines where it can be captured. And then you win after your opponent clearly doesn't blunder.