[Event "Morphy's Opera Game: Morphy's Classic Opera Game"] [Site "Paris"] [Date "1858"] [White "Paul Morphy"] [Black "Duke Karl / Count Isouard"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Collection"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C41"] [Opening "Philidor Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/aVdQHxwx/jHDna5ZE"] [Orientation "white"] { Paul Morphy (June 22, 1837 – July 10, 1884) was an unofficial American world champion from 1858 to 1860. The year was 1858. The American chess genius, Paul Morphy, was taking Europe by storm, but as the guest of the Duke Karl of Brunswick to the opera that night he was simply hoping to take in a good show! However, the Duke and his friend, the Count Isouard, had other plans, and they engaged the 21 year-old American phenom in a casual consultation match. } 1. e4 { According to my database, of 54 recorded games Morphy played with White, he opened 1. e4 in 48 of them. Fischer and Morphy were apparently in agreement: 1. e4 is'best by test'! It occupies the center square e4 while controlling the other center square d5. In addition, White also opens the diagonal f1-a6 for the bishop on f1. } (1. f3 { [%cal Ge1h4] } 1... e5 { [%csl Gd8] } 2. g4 (2. a3 Qh4+ 3. g3 { [%cal Gh2g3,Gh4g3] }) 2... Qh4# { [%cal Gh4e1] }) 1... e5 { Black does the same as White, controlling d4 and occupying e5, while opening up f8-a3 diagonal for the bishop on f8. Early chess games were by-and-large classical affairs. Defenses like the Sicilian, Caro-Kann, and French were far less popular than symmetrical lines, and the Duke and the Count conform to the trends of the time. } { [%csl Gf1,Gf2,Gd2,Gc2,Gb2,Ga2,Gd5,Gf5][%cal Ge2e4] } 2. Nf3 { When developing your pieces, it's ideal if you can simultaneously accomplish another goal. Here White brings the knight in to action while also attacking the pawn on e5. } 2... d6 { The opening is called the Philidor Defense and is named after François-André Danican Philidor, the stronger player of the 18th century. Black reliably protects e5, while opening up the h3-c8 diagonal for the bishop on c8. But compared to 2... ♘c6 this move has two drawbacks: 1 ) it does not develop a piece, and 2 ) it blocks Black's dark-square bishop. Still, 2... d6 is fully playable. } { [%csl Gc8,Gf8][%cal Gd6e5,Gf3e5] } (2... Nc6) 3. d4 { This aggressive move controls d4 while attacking the e5 pawn, clearing the c1-h6 diagonal for the bishop on c1. Morphy looks to open the center by means of a pawn break. Opening lines is particularly helpful if you're leading in development, as you may have more resources to attack than your opponent has to counter. } { [%cal Ge5d4,Gf3d4] } (3. h3 Nf6) 3... Bg4 { Black develops a piece and pins the knight, but this is a weak move already. --Fischer Better options are 3..exd4, 3... ♘d7, and 3... ♘f6. } { [%csl Gf3][%cal Gd1f3,Gg2f3] } (3... exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bc4 O-O 7. Bf4 Nbd7 8. O-O Ne5 9. Bb3 Bd7) (3... Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd5 Nc5 6. Bg5 Be6 7. Qxc5 dxc5 8. Bxd8 Kxd8 9. Ng5 Nc6 10. f4 Ke7) (3... Nd7 { [%csl Ge5] } 4. dxe5 Nxe5 5. Nxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Be3 Nf6) 4. dxe5 { White immediatly captures the e5 pawn, putting the Duke and the Count to an early decision. Question: should Black recapture on e5 or play something else? } { [%cal Gd6e5,Gg4f3] } 4... Bxf3 { Unfortunately forced if Black does not want to part with material. If instead 4... dxe5, then 5. ♕xd8+ ♔xd8 6. ♘xe5 wins a pawn. } { [%csl Gg2] } (4... Nc6 5. exd6 Bxd6 6. Be2 Qe7 7. O-O Qxe4 8. h3 Bh5) (4... Nd7 5. exd6 Bxd6 6. Be2) (4... dxe5 { [%cal Gf3e5,Gd1d8] } 5. Nxe5 (5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Nxe5 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Ge5f7,Ge5g4] } 6... Be6) 5... Qxd1# { [%cal Gg4d1,Ge1d1] } (5... Bxd1)) 5. Qxf3 { Recapturing with the queen avoids any damage to White's pawn structure. Double pawns -- something to avoid in chess. In addition, the queen on f3 can potentially represent a threat to black on f7. } (5. gxf3) 5... dxe5 { Re-establishing material equality. Question: how can White now develop and create a threat? } { [%csl Gf7] } 6. Bc4 { Efficient. Morphy brings his light-square bishop in to action and threatens ♕f3xf7#. } { [%csl Rf7][%cal Gc4f7,Ge8f7,Gf3f7] } (6. Bb5+ c6) 6... Nf6?! { Black develops and defends against the principal threat. However, in view of Morphy's next move it was preferable for Black to reinforce f7 by means of 6... ♕f6 or 6... ♕d7. What if 6...Nh6? } (6... Qd7 7. Qb3 c6 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. Bg5 b5 11. Be2 $16) (6... a6 { [%cal Gf3f7] } 7. Qxf7#) (6... Nh6 { [%csl Gh6][%cal Gh6f7] } 7. Bxh6 (7. Qxf7+ Nxf7 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7) 7... gxh6) (6... Qf6 { [%cal Gc4f7] } 7. Qb3 { [%csl Gb7][%cal Gb3f7] } (7. Bxf7+) 7... b6 8. Nc3 { [%cal Gc3d5] } 8... c6 9. Bg5 (9. Nd5 cxd5 10. Bb5+ Nc6 11. exd5 Ne7 12. dxc6 O-O-O 13. Qa4 a5 14. O-O Rd4 15. Qb3 Nxc6 16. c3 Rd8 17. Qc4 Bc5 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Qe6) 9... Qxg5 (9... Qg6 10. Rd1 Nd7 (10... Be7 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 (11... Kxe7 12. O-O Nf6 13. Qa3+ c5 14. Bd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5+ Kf8 16. Nc7 Nc6 17. Nxa8) 12. Bxf7+ Qxf7 13. Rd8+ Kxd8 14. Qxf7) 11. Bxf7+ Qxf7 12. Qxf7+ Kxf7 13. Rxd7+ Ke8 14. Rc7) 10. Bxf7+ Ke7 11. Bxg8) (6... f6) (6... Nc6 { [%cal Gf3h5] } 7. Qg4 (7. Qxf7#)) (6... Nd7) (6... Qe7) 7. Qb3 { Double attack! Moving a piece twice in the opening is often undesirable, but Morphy's move creates the twin threats of 8. ♕xb7 and 8. ♗xf7+. Winning move. -- Bobby Fisher } { [%csl Gb3,Gb7][%cal Gb3b7,Gc4f7] } 7... Qe7 { The Duke and the Count are on their back feet, but they wisely agree to defend the essential f7-pawn. If instead 7... b6, Black would be swiftly mated: 8. Bxf7+ Kd7 (e7) 9. Qe6#. What if 7....Qd7? 8.Qb7 Qc6 9. Bb5! } { [%cal Gc4f7,Ge7f7,Ge8f7,Gb3b7] } (7... b6 { [%csl Rf7] } 8. Bxf7+ { [%cal Ge8f7,Re8d7,Re8e7] } 8... Kd7 (8... Ke7 9. Qe6#) 9. Qe6#) (7... Qd7 8. Qxb7 Qc6 9. Bb5 { Win a queen } (9. Qxc6+ Nxc6) (9. Qc8+ Ke7)) 8. Nc3!? { An intriguing decision: Morphy passes on a clean pawn! Yes, 8. ♕xb7 would have netted a point for free, but Morphy was a great lover of the initiative, and grinding out a victory after 8... ♕b4+ 9. ♕xb4 ♗xb4+ did not appeal to his'romantic' chess instincts. This moves reminds us that sometimes it is better to develop your pieces than to go after a pawn. } (8. Qxb7 { [%cal Gb7a8] } 8... Qb4+ 9. Qxb4 Bxb4+ 10. Nc3 (10. c3) 10... Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 O-O 12. f3) (8. Bxf7+ Qxf7 9. Qxf7+ Kxf7) 8... c6 { Now Black's queen laterally defends the b7-pawn. Question: how should White continue? } { [%csl Gc1,Gd2,Ge3,Gg5][%cal Ge7b7] } (8... Qb4 { [%csl Gf7] }) 9. Bg5 { Methodically bringing another piece in to play and pinning the f6-knight. White develops the last minor piece. Black is in what's like a zugzwang position here. He can't develop the [Queen's] knight because the pawn is hanging, the bishop is blocked because of the Queen.--Fischer } { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gb8d7] } 9... b5? { Gasping for air, the Duke and the Count venture this pawn advance in order to push Morphy backward. if white moces the bishop back on c4, black will play Nb8-d7. Will the American champion budge? In the hindsight, b5 is a mistake. Na6 was a better choice. } 10. Nxb5 { A very good move! Once again Morphy demonstrates that the initiative is more important than material. Here he sacrifices his knight for two pawns plus an attack. This is a beginning of a series of beautiful sacrifices. What white wants is simple. The black king is vulnerable because it is not yet castled. Not all of black's pieces are developed. Therefore, white wants to open the position to expose the black king. } (10. Be2 Nbd7) 10... cxb5? { It is objectively better to swap queens with 10... ♕b4+ 11. ♕xb4 ♗xb4, although after 12. c3 White would have a decisive advantage anyway. } (10... Qb4+ 11. Qxb4 Bxb4+ 12. c3 cxb5 13. Bxb5+ Nbd7 14. cxb4) 11. Bxb5+ { White gives Black no respite. Black's king side is blocked. The bishop on f8 ad the rook on h8 cannot get out. in the meantime, black's queen side has opened up, leaving the king exposed. } { [%cal Gb5e8] } 11... Nbd7 { Black develops the knight and defends the check at the same time, hoping to shield the king to some degree. The alternative is 11....♔d8, but then 12.O-O-O+ ♔c7 13. ♖d3! is overwhelming. Black's king has no pawn cover, and White's rook are poised to join the assault. } (11... Kd8 12. O-O-O+ (12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qd5+ Qd6 14. Qxa8 Qb4+ 15. c3 Qxb5) 12... Kc7 13. Rd3 { [%csl Gf8,Gh8,Gf6] }) 12. O-O-O { Another multipurpose move. White whisks his king away to safety and contributes his queenside rook to the attacking cause. Note that Morphy is not in a hurry to capture on d7, as he realizes that his bishop on b5 exerts an uncomfortable pin on his opponents. Always try to maximize your pins and'pile on the pinned piece' if possible! White does not give black a moment to recuperate. } { [%csl Gd1,Gh1,Gf6][%cal Gb5d7,Gg5e7,Gd1d7,Ga8d8] } (12. Rd1 { [%csl Gh1] }) 12... Rd8 { The noblemen are feeling the heat! White was threatening to capture on d7, so the knight needed backup. } (12... Qb4 13. Bxf6 gxf6 (13... Qxb3 14. Bxd7#) 14. Bxd7+ Kd8 15. Bc6+ Kc8 16. Qh3+ f5 17. Qxf5+ Kc7 18. Qd7+ Kb6 19. Qb7+ Ka5 20. Rd5+ Bc5 21. Rxc5+ Qxc5 22. a3 Qxc6 23. b4+ Ka4 24. Qxc6+ Kxa3 25. Qc4 Ka4 26. Kb2 $18) (12... Qe6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Bxd7+) (12... O-O-O 13. Ba6+ Kc7 14. Qb7#) (12... a6 13. Bxd7+ { [%cal Gf6d7] }) 13. Rxd7 { Another spectacular moce, continuing the attack! An 'exchange sacrifice' is a sacrifice whereby White gives up a rook for a minor piece (knight or bishop) . The sacrifice is particularly strong here because White retains his pinning piece: the bishop on b5. The other legal recaptures 13... Nxd7 or 13... Qxd7 would lose the queen. } { [%csl Gf6] } 13... Rxd7 { Black has four useless pieces: The bishop on f8 and the rook on h8 are stuck, and the knight on f6 and the rook on d7 are pinned. This is an exmples of what not to so. the key lesson here is: Develop your pieces and castle as soon as possible. } (13... Qxd7 14. Bxd7+ Rxd7 15. Qb8+ Rd8 16. Qb5+ Rd7 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Rd1 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 O-O $18) 14. Rd1 { Now that the knight on d7 is gone, black's position is even weaker. So what does white want to do now? The answer is simple: Continue the attack! The most obvious target is the black rook on d7, because it is pinned and completely helpless. White's kingside rook was the only piece that had not yet participated in the battle, so Morphy centralizes and hammers d7 once more. Impressive coordination! } { [%csl Gb5,Gd7,Gf8,Gh8][%cal Gb5d7] } 14... Qe6 { Black is currently up a rook, but he can barely move a muscle. Note the ineffectiveness of the blocked in bishop on f8 and the bystander rook on h8 ('quality over quantity' is especially relevant to attack and defense in chess) . The Duke and the Count attempt to ease the pressure by means of a queen trade. } { [%cal Gb5d7,Gf6d7] } (14... a6 15. Bxd7+) 15. Bxd7+ { It's time to cash in on the pin. } (15. Qxe6+ fxe6 16. Bxf6 Kf7 17. Rxd7+ Kxf6 18. Rxa7) 15... Nxd7?! { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Qxd7 was better. Question: how can White finish the job? Find the win! } (15... Qxd7 16. Qb8+ Ke7 17. Qxe5+ Qe6 (17... Kd8 18. Bxf6+ gxf6 19. Qxf6+ Kc7 20. Rxd7+ Kxd7 21. Qxh8) 18. Qc7+ Qd7 (18... Ke8 19. Rd8#) 19. Qxd7#) 16. Qb8+ { Queen sacrifice! } 16... Nxb8 { [%cal Gd1d8] } 17. Rd8# { A beautiful finish to a game! Morphy delivers checkmate with his only two remaining pieces. This game is a brilliant demonstration of optimal opening play and coordination of forces in the attack. In just 17 moves Morphy committed all his pieces to the struggle and created a sacrificial masterpiece! } { [%cal Gg5d8] } 1-0