Paul Morphy – Chess Badass

Mar 26

MongoChess , , , , 1 Comment

Everyone knows Paul Morphy was one of the greatest chess players of his time, if not of all time.  The game below illustrates his aggressive style of play, and his pure brilliance at the chess board.  This game was played in a box at the Paris Opera during a performance of “The Barber of Seville”.

 

[Event "Paris"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paul Morphy"]
[Black "Duke Karl / Count Isouard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1858.??.??"]
[JsCom "startply 0"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4
{
This is a weak move already.--Fischer Other text suggests 3...Nd7 or 3...Nf6 -- Mongo
}
4. dxe5 Bxf3
{
If black where to 4...dxe5 instead, then black would lose a pawn after 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Nxe5 -- Mongo
}
5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4
{
The threat is a Qxf7 mate. Though this is easily prevented, this is a developing move which leads to future badness -- Mongo
}
6... Nf6 7. Qb3
{
Threating to capture the f7 pawn with check, and the b7 pawn -- Mongo
}
7... Qe7 8. Nc3
{
If 8. Qxb7, then black can force a queen trade with Qb4+. The Nc3 prevents this and develops a piece. -- Mongo
}
8... c6
{
Gets ready for the b7, b5 push which won't help black. Also, this moves guards the b7 pawn with the black qeen -- Mongo
}
9. Bg5
{
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 Another thing to note here, is that all of white's pieces are developed, and the white king can castle in either direction. This proves to be Blacks downfall in the next few moves. -- Mongo
}
9... b5 10. Nxb5
{
Yes, the pain starts here. The follow moves will show the brilliant play of Morphy. -- Mongo
}
10... cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O
{
Even Morphy's castling moves attack. You have to love his style of play. -- Mongo
}
12... Rd8
{
....And the king is boxed in -- Mongo
}
13. Rxd7
{
It's all over now -- Mongo
}
13... Rxd7 14. Rd1
{
Black has gotta hate that bishiop pin -- Mongo
}
14... Qe6
{
Has to move here to free the Knight on F6, not that it will matter -- Mongo
}
15. Bxd7+
{
Can you see it yet?? -- Mongo
}
15... Nxd7 16. Qb8+ Nxb8
{
No other choice here, game over. -- Mongo
}
17. Rd8#
{
And checkmate. I personally think that Morphy may have seen this position (or was striving for it) way back at move 10 with Nxb5! -- Mongo
}
1-0

 

I don’t know about you guys, but the first time I went over this, all I could say was Damn!