Checkmate in the Metropolis

In a warm, welcoming timber-framed tavern, away from the chaos of the merchants and tradesmen on the bustling narrow London streets outside, Gioachino Greco likely perched, pondering his next move. Having crushed the chess elite of Italy and then France, Greco, in traditional Roman fashion set his sagacious sites on Albion.

It was here, in 1623, amidst the thick dark smoke and rythmic clip-clopping of hooves on cobble stones that this brutal game of chess was played.

Welcome to Checkmate in the Metropolis.

Greco's chess book, printed after his death, with King Charles 1st of England depicted.

Gioachino Greco was an Italian chess player and writer. He was one of the strongest players of his time and was among the first to record full chess games.

Born around 1600, Greco left home young and uneducated to make a living abroad playing chess. In this pursuit, he was successful, traveling throughout Europe, defeating chess champions, and leaving manuscripts about his life and chess with his peers. He is believed to have been one of the first professional chess players. Many of the short games he recorded are thought to have been compositions, making it difficult to discern which games he wrote down were real and which were not. However, what is certain is that he possessed more than enough ability to dispose of any opponent at the time.

This beautiful short game, full of ruthless sacrifices, teaches much about romantic chess.

Can you find the winning combination, as Greco did in 1623?