Theme: Bxh7 Sac! Part 1, Old School

Hiya chess players!  Have you ever yearned to sacrifice your bishop for checkmate or gargantuan amounts of material?  I know I have.  I love giving away my pieces!  Today we will look at games where white wins after sacking his bishop on h7.  You might think these players have gone mad; some will even sac their queen!!  By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott, aka BoundingOwl.

Note that after black has castled (kingside), the squares g7 and h7 become targets.  F7 is no longer really a target because the rook helps to protect that square.  How do you know white is ready to sac in this position?  He has FIVE pieces ready and aiming at the kingside, and his river of pawns points directly toward the king.  Bu-bye castle walls!

This next game was played in 1884, back when your great great grandparents were babies...  First, sac your bishop on h7.  Click on the move list to see what happens if he takes back!!  Next, use the same bishop for a discovery and to prepare for another check with...the big bad bishop again!  Once the queen is pinned, you have checkmate (but not with the bishop)!