An instructive attacking method

I've often wondered why we learn tactical motifs (pins, forks etc), plus tactical 'tricks' (eg Philidors legacy), but standard attacking 'templates' are far less common. By that I mean an move sequence that is longer the usual short term tactics, and can be repeated over and over again. The most obvious example of this would be the Greek Gift (Bxh7 sacrifice), which most players learn, even if they don't get to play it.
This thought re-occurred to me today while watching the game between FM Bobby Cheng and WGM Irine Sukandar from the Australian Open. On move 22 Cheng played the aggressive Ng5 and after Bxg2 decided to sacrifice the piece by playing Qh5. He had a number of threats in the position and eventually Sukandar was unable to stop them all. Not only was it a nice attack, but it looked like one that could conceivably occur in a number of middle game positions. However chess is a cruel games at times, and in this case the attack worked because Black missed 26. ... Be8. But even after White retreats the queen, he still has adequate compensation for the piece. So it was an idea that met with practical success (good), and even if the best replies were found, doesn't lose, which is good enough for me.


Cheng,Bobby - Sukandar,Irine [E05]
Australian Open Sydney, 08.01.2013

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4 b4 9. Bg5 Bb7 10. Bxf6 b3 11. Qxc4 Bxf6 12. Qxb3 Bd5 13. Qc2 Na6 14. e4 Bb7 15. Rd1 Nb4 16. Qd2 c5 17. e5 Be7 18. Nc3 Qa5 19. Qe2 Rad8 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Ng5 Bxg2 23. Qh5 Bc6 24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. Nxe6 Rg8 26. Rd1 Bb6 27. Qf5 Be8 28. Nf8 Bxf2+ 29. Kg2 1-0