Gioacchino Greco (1600–c.1634) was an Italian chess player and writer. Greco recorded some of the first chess games on record, 77 in total. His games, all against anonymous opponents ("NN"), were quite possible constructs, but acted as highly useful tools for spotting opening traps. // Events January January 1 - Scotland adopts January 1st as being New Years Day February February 17 - Giordano Bruno burned at the stake for heresy July July 2 - Battle of Nieuwpoort: Dutch forces under Maurice of Nassau defeat Spanish forces under Archduke Albert in a battle on the coastal dunes. ... Events Moses Amyrauts Traite de la predestination is published Curaçao captured by the Dutch Treaty of Polianovska First meeting of the Académie française The witchcraft affair at Loudun Jean Nicolet lands at Green Bay, Wisconsin Opening of Covent Garden Market in London English establish a settlement... A chess table is a table with a chessboard painted or engraved on it. ...

History

Gioachino Greco was a remarkable chess player between Louis Lopez and François-André Danican Philidor. As one of the players during the age of "Italy Romantic Style", he invented many of variations of Italy openings, and wrote down on his handscripts around 1625. After his death, his handscripts were published in London in 1665, further editions have been printed and translated, which was regarded as the classic of the early ages of chess. In 1634, his simple but strong game and analysis on the chess formation were the representatives during Renaissance period. Greco loved to use the Sicilian Defence, which was invented by an Italian bishop. A chess table is a table with a chessboard painted or engraved on it. ... François-André Danican Philidor (September 1, 1726 - August 31, 1795) was a French chess player and composer. ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... By Region: Italian Renaissance Northern Renaissance *French Renaissance *German Renaissance *English Renaissance The Renaissance, also known as Rinascimento (in Italian), was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation, at the dawn of modern European history. ... The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening which begins with: 1. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ...

Greco paved the way for many of the attacking legends of the Romantic era, such as Paul Morphy and François Philidor. Paul Charles Morphy (June 22, 1837 - July 10, 1884), The Pride and Sorrow of Chess, is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his time, an unofficial World Champion and, is considered by many, including some grandmasters (see below) the greatest chessplayer who has ever lived. ... François-André Danican Philidor (September 1, 1726 - August 31, 1795) was a French chess player and composer. ...

Games

Among his games/constructions were the first smothered mate: In chess, a smothered mate is a checkmate delivered by a knight in which the mated king is unable to move because he is surrounded (or smothered) by his own pieces. ...

NN vs Greco 1620

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.Re1 O-O 6.c3 Qe7 7.d4 exd4 8.e5 Ng4 9.cxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 Qh4 11.Nf3 Qxf2+ 12.Kh1 Qg1+ 13.Nxg1 Nf2# 0-1

and this stunning queen sacrifice: Queen sacrifice is the term used in chess when a players queen (easily the most powerful piece) is deliberately allowed to be captured by the enemy. ...

Greco vs NN 1619

1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 Nf6 7.gxh7 Nxh5 8.Bg6# 1-0

See also: Greco Defence The Greco Defence is a chess opening that begins with 1. ...