Ask Coach Jessica: Toasting the French, Part 2
Hola! It's time for more French openings from BoundingOwl! Be sure you read part 1 first! If you play the French, or if you play against it, you HAVE to know the Greek Gift!!
This is an amazing trick I've talked about before, twice! Here you'll see how we got to the bishop sac, then, another French puzzle! D'accord? By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).
Note that Black should play c5 as soon as possible, and not wait until move seven as in this game! In the French, Black's pieces have less space, specifically because of the pawn on e6 which traps the light-squared bishop. So a break like c5 is completely necessary!
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At this point, Black needs to play f5 to try to stop that White bishop from infiltrating! Do you see the "gift?" Follow through with another forcing move.
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Note that after the bishop sacrifice, White could have first played Qh5+ and then entered with his knight. In this case, the move order didn't matter.
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What line do you see yourself playing in the future?
Here is a puzzle from the World Blitz Championships played in September of 2013 where White can win a queen! Yeah, I don't mind if they play the French! (OK, obviously I chose games where White wins. Black wins plenty, and lots of people love the French for Black!! 
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Sweet! Here is the entire, short!, game.
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See you next time! Be sure to send your questions and games to the Ask Coach Jessica Forum!
RELATED STUDY MATERIAL
- To see an example when the Greek Gift idea doesn't work, check out ThirstyDonkey's first game of this article;
- Make sure you read part one of BoundingOwl's lesson on the French;
- Here's a brilliant video on attacking h7, often with a French pawn structure!