Typical sacrifices in the Sicilian
Two knight sacrifices from real Sicilian games, Nxd5 and Nf5, both against a king that has not castled.
The idea
Give a knight to open lines against a king that has not castled.
- Nxd5 gives up a knight for a pawn that three pieces attack.
- The pawn on e6 is pinned by the rook on e1, so it cannot take back.
- After cxd5, the bishop on c4 takes back and attacks a8 and e6.
In a game: A king in the middle with a pinned pawn in front of it invites a sacrifice to open lines.
How the lesson begins
The Sicilian has many kinds of sacrifice. This lesson shows two of them, both knight sacrifices from real games.
This is move 15 of a game from New York, 1918. Oscar Chajes has White against Dawid Janowski, and it began as a Sicilian. Black has not castled: the king is still on e8.
Look at the e-file. The rook on e1 faces the king, and the pawn on e6 stands between them. That pawn is pinned: if it left the file, the king would be in check.
The pawn on d5 is attacked three times, by the knight on c3, the bishop on c4 and the queen on d4.
Find the move
White to move. One move gives up a knight for a pawn, and it is the strongest move on the board. Find it.
A hint
A knight can take on d5. Which Black pawn is not allowed to take it back?
Show the answer
15. Nxd5
Nxd5! The knight takes a pawn that three of White’s pieces attack. The pawn on e6 cannot take it back, because it is pinned. Black can still take with the c-pawn, and the next steps show what White gets for the knight.