Zen6n ranco

'
move by move

001
 e ranco

Morphy
m,ove by move

EVERYMAN CHESS
www.eve ryma11c:hess.c0im

002
Translated by Phil Adams
First published in 2016 by Gloucester Publishers Limited, Northburgh House,
10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0AT

Copyright 2016 Zenn Franco

Translated by Phil Adams

The right of Zenn Franco to be identified as the author of this work has been
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003
About the Author
Zenn Franco is a Grandmaster from Paraguay, now living in Spain. He represented Paraguay, on top
board, in seven Chess Olympiads, and won individual gold medals at Lucerne 1982 and Novi Sad 1990.
Hes an experienced trainer and has written numerous books on chess.

Also by the Author:

Anand: Move by Move
Rubinstein: Move by Move
Spassky: Move by Move
Test Your Chess

004
Contents
About the Author
Bibliography
Introduction

1 Paul Morphys Style of Play

2 Games Against Family Members
3 The First American Chess Congress 1857
4 The Visit to London and the Match Against Lwenthal
5 The Journey to Paris and the Match Against Harrwitz
6 The Match Against Anderssen
7 Retirement

Paul Morphys results

Index of Complete Games

005
Bibliography
Books
Morphys Games of Chess, Philip W. Sergeant (Dover Publications 1957)
My 60 Memorable Games, Robert J. Fischer (Simon & Schuster 1969)
My Great Predecessors, Part 1, Garry Kasparov (Everyman Chess 2003)
Paul Morphy: A Modern Perspective, Valeri Beim (Russell Enterprises 2005)

Periodicals
New in Chess Magazine 1984-2015

Databases
Paul Morphy: Genius and Myth, Thomas Eichhorn, Rainer Knaak & Karsten Mller (Chessbase 2003)
Mega Database 2015 (Chessbase 2015)

Chess Engines
Houdini
Rybka

006
Introduction
It is a pleasure to write about a chess player whose career was as unusual as that of Paul Morphy, who
was considered without question to be the best in the world in his day.
He became number one, not through a normal process of experience and learning, but almost
overnight. In fact his career was the shortest of all those who can be considered the number one of their
time. Between his first game in the first USA Championship in 1857 and the last game of his match
against Adolf Anderssen, there was a space of only one year and three months. Even so, Morphys
superiority over the rest was overwhelming.
Morphy is possibly the easiest to understand of the players who have been the best of their time. As
Max Euwe pointed out, his style was based on three basic elements: 1. rapid development of the pieces;
2. control of the centre; and 3. open lines.
It seems simple, yet it cant be so, since the other masters of the day couldnt manage it when they
confronted him; only Morphy grasped it. He was ahead of his time. One of his rivals Henry Bird said:
When one plays with Morphy the sensation is as queer as the first electric shock, or first love, or
chloroform, or any entirely novel experience.
Morphy read all the literature that was available in those days, but this didnt amount to much; that
alone wasnt enough. As a standard of comparison, lets keep in mind that Robert Fischer said in 1968
that part of his own mastery was due to his having read around a thousand books and having taken the
best out of each of them.
All the masters agree that Morphys beautiful combinations were based on the fact that he was the
first positional player, even though that sounds paradoxical. His teachings were perfected later by
Steinitz, but Morphy was the first, the most revolutionary. And we are left with an obvious question:
How did he discover it? How did he learn?
As with two other world number ones whose careers I have had the good fortune to study, Akiba Rubinstein and Boris Spassky,
Morphys written legacy is almost non-existent. Unfortunately, he left little or no evidence of how he chose his moves, how he evaluated the
positions, etc. Thus we have to let his games speak for him.

The Structure of this Book

In the first chapter I examine Morphys style of play, with testimony from various world champions, along with my own conclusions. Then
some practical examples of his style are given.
The rest of the book features a selection of his games, ordered chronologically, with some biographical data. Extracts from games and some
supplementary games are added.

Zenn Franco
Ponteareas, September 2016

With special thanks to Jonathan Tait for his very useful suggestions and improvements.

007
Chapter One
Paul Morphys Style of Play
I believe that brilliance is something that all we chess players associate with the name of Morphy, from
the very first time that we see some of his games, which as a rule takes place not long after learning to
play.
Those spectacular sacrifices of material leading to mate seemed magical to us. Lasker was one of
several champions who emphasized the positional basis of Morphys game; he wrote: Morphy
discovered that the brilliant move of a master is essentially conditional not on a sudden and inexplicable
realization, but on the placing of the pieces on the board. He introduced the rule: brilliant moves and
deep winning manoeuvres are possible only in those positions where the opponent can be opposed
with an abundance of active energy.
Capablanca commented something in the same vein: The greatest stylist was Morphy. He did not
look for complicated combinations, but he also did not avoid them, which really is the correct way of
playing ( ... ) His main strength lay not in his combinative gift, but in his positional play and general
style. Morphy gained most of his wins by playing directly and simply, and it is this simple and logical
method that constitutes the true brilliance of his play, if it is considered from the viewpoint of the great
masters.
Alekhine pointed out that: ... at that time, finally, when Anderssen was alive, and with brilliance
alone it was hardly possible to surprise anyone. The strength, the invincible strength of Morphy this
was the reason for his success and the guarantee of his immortality!. Morphys invincible strength, in
the opinion of Alekhine was his deeply considered positional play, primarily of an aggressive
character.
Euwe agreed with the world champions who preceded him: Many people consider Morphy to be the
greatest combinative player of all time. But Morphy owed his remarkable achievements not only to his
admittedly tremendous combinative talents, but also to the fact that he was the first perfect positional
player in so far as one can speak of perfection in a human being. Moreover, he had excellent
technique.
In the maturity of his positional insight, Morphy was half a century ahead of his time. While others
racked their brains for the right procedure, Morphy simply knew what to do. Unlike his contemporaries
who played for complications on the off-chance of finding something, he struck only when the position
was ripe. When he did strike, the blow was hard and often settled the game outright.
Botvinnik emphasized that: To this day Morphy is an unsurpassed master of the open games. Just
how great his significance was is evident from the fact that after Morphy nothing substantially new has
been created in this field.
What Botvinnik said was confirmed by Adolf Anderssen himself, who admitted that he could not
compete with Morphy in open positions none other than Anderssen, the protagonist of the Immortal
and the Evergreen games.
Fischer was not backward in giving praise: Morphy was perhaps the most accurate chess player
who ever lived. He had complete sight of the board and never blundered, in spite of the fact that he
played quite rapidly, rarely taking more than five minutes to decide a move. (His opponents, in those
days before chess clocks, often took hours.)
Smyslov noted that: He played with inspiration, without striving to penetrate into the psychology of
the opponent; he played, if one can express it so, pure chess. His harmonious positional understanding
and deep intuition would have made Morphy a highly dangerous opponent even for any player of our
times.
As Kasparov pointed out, almost all world champions (Botvinnik is the exception) saw their own
game reflected in Morphys, their own vision of the game and their own strength; at times they seemed to
be talking about themselves. For this to be so general is something surprising and unique.
Kasparov explained Morphys strength in this way: I think that it was a combination of a unique
natural talent and brilliant erudition. His play was the next, more mature stage in the development of
chess. Morphy had a well-developed feeling for position, and therefore he can be confidently regarded
008
as the first swallow the prototype of the strong 20th century grandmaster.
Fischer also mentioned the only fallibility shown by Morphy: Perhaps his only weakness was in
closed games like the Dutch Defence. But even then, he was usually victorious because of his
resourcefulness.
There can be little doubt that if Morphy had continued to play he would also have excelled in closed
positions.
The five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand was asked who he would play against, considering the whole history of chess, he
answered: Id probably go for Morphy. He was the first player who made everything seem effortless. In fact I was shocked to see a
collection of all his games, because usually we see only the best ones in which the chess looks like effortless. If you saw all his games you
realized, first of all he was human, and second, his opponents were not all that bad.
Of course there are the ones [where] they look amateurish, but there are also the ones where they look ... suddenly you can see the
beginning of modern chess. You suddenly see pawn structures and you think: they only discovered this in the 1920s.
Suddenly you see the early versions of this and so on. ( ... ) Somehow they were knocking at the doors but they hadnt worked out the
details.
Nigel Short wrote: My first hero was Paul Morphy. ( ... ) I think he was just way ahead of his time. I liked his economy. He didnt
waste time with his moves: they were very purposeful. In a sense they are classic games: they teach you to attack, not mess around. ( ... )
He was a hero and then at some stage I thought his games were not very sophisticated and his opponents were bad, and I should look at
something better. I now think that he was so much in advance of his contemporaries, just a genius. Some of the ideas were quite deep and
he had a fantastic calculating ability.
On another occasion he added: Morphy had this tremendous feeling for the initiative. ( ... ) All this
playing against weak pawns and shuffling around is nonsense; its checkmate that wins the game.
Morphy demonstrates economy of development, control of the centre and the use of open lines.
I wish to add what I believe was an essential characteristic of Morphys practical play, and that is his
ability to maintain the tension, to abstain from committal decisions except when he had a concrete
reason to do so. That characteristic was vital for him to succeed in the many games he played at odds;
i.e. granting his opponent a material advantage at the start of the game.
In some games, almost always simultaneous played at odds, rather than in serious ones, Morphy
seemed almost to be playing a game of chicken, from which he almost always emerged the winner. In
those games the competitive and/or practical element was more important than objectivity.
Finally, let us note Anderssens observation: Morphy treats chess with the seriousness and
conscientiousness of an artist ... For him a game of chess is a sacred duty; and he said about his play:
Morphys play seemed to me like something from another world.

Morphy on the Attack

P.Morphy-E.Rousseau
New Orleans 1849

White to play

Here we have a typical Kings Gambit scenario; White has sacrificed a piece to expose the enemy
king. It is not possible to regain the piece yet with 10 Bxg8? in view of 10 ... h5!. Nevertheless, White
has very reasonable compensation. So far he has only one pawn for the piece, but the f4-pawn looks as
if it will fall soon. However, the most important factor is that it will take the black king some time to
009
reach a safe haven.
Morphy was only twelve years old when he played this game. With greater maturity he would surely
have gone for 10 d4!, a developing move which also builds a strong centre. Then 10 ... Qxd4? would
allow 11 Bxg8, since the g6-square is now accessible to the white queen; while after 10 ... Kd8 White
could play 11 Bxf4, not fearing 11 ... d5 on account of 12 Qg3 dxc4? 13 Be5.
The move chosen by the young Morphy, in his first meeting with a well-known master, is inferior, but
is testament to his tremendous imagination and his quest for the initiative at all costs.
10 e5?
With this surprising method of opening the e-file Morphy wants to win by direct attack. There will be
no material compensation. This move is reminiscent of a boxer, staking everything in search of a
knockout in the final round.
10 ... Qxe5+ 11 Kd1 Kd8
This move is fine, although 11 ... Nf6 was also adequate, enabling the black queen to retreat to h5.
12 Re1
With the c8-bishop defended, 12 Bxg8? would fail to 12 ... d6 (or 12 ... d5) 13 Qg6 Bf5 14 Qf7 Bg4+
and wins; of course Morphys idea was not to take on g8 but to attack.
12 ... Qc5?
So Morphy emerges the winner from this game of chicken. After 12 ... Qg7! or 12 ... Nf6!, he
would have met insoluble difficulties in justifying his daring 10th move.
13 Bxg8 d5??
This natural move is actually a fatal mistake; 13 ... d6 was better, and then 14 Qg6 or 14 Be6 with
some advantage.

Not even the mature Morphy could have handled this phase of the game with greater skill.
14 Re8+!
An attractive way to draw out the enemy king, based on the key follow-up on move 16.
14 ... Kxe8 15 Qxc8+ Ke7 16 Nxd5+!
This is the essential follow-up to 14 Re8+!, rather than 16 Qxb7+? Nd7 17 Qxa8, which surrenders
the initiative and hands Black a mating attack after 17 ... Qg1+ 18 Ke2 Qxg2+ 19 Ke1 Qg1+ 20 Ke2 f3+!
21 Kxf3 Ne5+ 22 Ke2 (or 22 Kf4 Qf2+ 23 Kxe5 Bg7 mate) 22 ... Qg2+ 23 Ke3 Qf3+ 24 Kd4 Qf2+ 25
Kxe5 Bg7 mate.
16 ... Kd6 17 Qc7 mate

J.Schulten-P.Morphy,
Blindfold game, New York 1857

010
 Black to play

White is two pawns up, which can be reduced to one by 17 ... Qxd5, attacking f3 and with ideas of ...
Nb6, or by 17 ... cxd5, opening the c-file. While these are both good moves, Morphy chooses the most
direct way, concentrating more forces against Whites main weakness, which is his king.
17 ... Nb6!
With this fresh pawn sacrifice we see a scenario which will be repeated time and time again. Morphy
gains a superiority in forces in the area that becomes the focus of the struggle, not flinching from further
sacrifices of material.
Simple, isnt it? Perhaps, but it has to work, and this will only happen if it is supported by precise
analysis. Lets not forget that the knight on h5 is not carrying out any function, either in attack or defence.
From a normal position such as f6 it would defend the rook on e8, which as we shall see would be
very useful.
18 Bxc6 Rac8
This human move, bringing more pieces into the attack, is an inaccuracy, or even an error. The
unlikely-looking 18 ... Rec8! is preferred by the analysis engines, and it is the best move, for purely
tactical reasons: in the ensuing tactical duel it will be important for Black not to have an undefended
rook on e8.
19 Kd2?
In this case it makes no difference which rook goes to c8. Instead, 19 Kb2! was better, with the
possible continuation 19 ... Rxc6 20 dxc6 Bxe2 and now not 21 Rxe2? when 21 ... Na4+! wins, but the
fact that the rook on e8 will be undefended grants White a vital tempo he can play 21 Rb1!, preparing
a retreat for the white monarch. Then after 21 ... Na4+ 22 Ka1 Nc3 23 Qd2, or 21 ... Ng3 22 Qd2, Black
would have some compensation for the sacrificed material, but no clearly advantageous continuation.
19 ... Rxc6!
Here there are equally strong alternatives, such as the simple 19 ... Nxd5 20 Bxe8 Qb4+ 21 c3 Rxc3!
and wins.
20 dxc6 Bxe2 21 Rxe2 Qxd4+ 22 Ke1 Qg1+ 23 Kd2 Rd8+ 24 Kc3 Qc5+
Naturally 24 ... Qxd1 wins, but Morphy chooses a slightly quicker way.
25 Kb2

011
 The ending after 25 ... Rxd1 26 Re8+ Qf8 27 Rxf8+ Kxf8 28 Be3 Rxa1 29 Kxa1 (or 29 Bxb6 Re1) 29
... Ke7 is winning for Black, but Morphy had another idea in mind.
25 ... Na4+! 0-1
There is a mate after 26 bxa4, while 26 Kb1 sees Black conclude with 26 ... Nc3+ 27 Kb2 Nxd1+ etc.

P.Morphy-NN
Blindfold simultaneous, New Orleans 1858

White to play

This position is very similar to the one arising from the Fegatello (or Fried Liver) Attack in the
Two Knights Defence after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Nxd5?!. The differences are
that Black has an extra pawn on d4 and his bishop is already developed on e7. Whites task is to
demonstrate that what his own gains are more important: he is already castled and can quickly bring his
c1-bishop and f1-rook into play.
8 Nxf7!
In this version of the Fried Liver Attack, White has greater piece activity, but speed is essential.
Black must not be allowed to castle. Here the knight sacrifice takes place in more favourable
circumstances than on move six in the Two Knights Defence.
8 ... Kxf7 9 Qf3+ Ke6
Handing the piece back with 9 ... Bf6 10 Bxd5+ would be dismal: White has a big advantage after 10
... Be6 11 Bxe6+ Kxe6 12 Bf4.
10 Nc3!
The priority is development, bringing the remaining pieces into the attack as quickly as possible.
One of the greatest admirers of Morphys play also reached this position in a simultaneous display.
The finish was similar: 10 Re1+ Ne5 11 Bf4 Bf6 12 Nc3! (rapid development, just like Morphy) 12 ...
012
c6 13 Rxe5+ Kf7 (or 13 ... Bxe5 14 Re1) 14 Nxd5 Be6 15 Rxe6 Kxe6 16 Nxf6+ Ke7 17 Re1+ Kf8 18
Qa3+ 1-0 R.J.Fischer-T.Rouse, Chicago (simul) 1964.
10 ... dxc3 11 Re1+ Ne5 12 Bf4 Bd6 13 Bxe5
In order to win it would be sufficient to regain the sacrificed material with 13 Qxd5+ Kd7 14 Bxe5.
Morphy chooses a more forceful way; all the white pieces are in the game except the rook on a1.
Morphy brings this piece into play and is able to outnumber the enemy forces in the centre of the
battlefield.
13 ... Bxe5

14 Rxe5+!
Completing the three preconditions cited by Euwe: after rapid development of the pieces, control of the centre, and opening of lines
comes the mating attack.
14 ... Kxe5 15 Re1+ Kd4 16 Bxd5 Rf8 17 Qd3+
Here 17 Qxc3+ was slightly quicker, with mate in three moves, but this does not matter the black
king cannot escape.
17 ... Kc5 18 b4+ Kxb4 19 Qd4+ 1-0
It is mate in four: 19 ... Ka5 20 Qxc3+ Ka4 21 Re4+ Kb5 22 Rb4+ Ka6 23 Qa3 mate.

P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
London 1859

White to play

White is a pawn up and with the simple 22 Rfe1 his advantage would be beyond doubt. Another idea
is to return the pawn to open lines with 22 e5! dxe5 23 Qe3. Morphy chooses something even more
forceful.
22 Rb1! 013
 In a few moves all the white pieces will be attacking the black king.
22 ... b6 23 Rfc1!
Another attacking piece comes into play, threatening 24 Rxb6 axb6 25 Nxb6+ mating.
23 ... Qf6 24 Qe3 Ng4

25 Nxb6+!
Destruction of the defence, opening lines in decisive fashion.
25 ... axb6
Or 25 ... Ke7 26 Rc7+! Kf8 27 Nd7+.
26 Rc7+! Kd8
If 26 ... Kxc7 then 27 Qxb6+ Kc8 (or 27 ... Kd7 28 Qa7+) 28 Qb8+ and mates.
27 Qxb6 Qxf2+ 28 Qxf2 Nxf2 29 Ra7 Nh3+
Something similar to the game happens after 29 ... Kc8 30 Kxf2. Note that 30 ... Rxe4 loses simply to
31 Ra8+.
30 gxh3 Kc8 31 Kf2 1-0

Black is defenceless against the plan of Ke3 and Rbb7, followed by the advance of the a-pawn to a6,
and Ra8 mate.
Morphy and the Initiative

P.Morphy-P.Ross
Simultaneous game, New Orleans 1858

014
 White to play

White has the advantage his pawn structure is not favourable for an endgame, but before the ending
the gods have placed the middlegame (Tarrasch) and White has all his pieces in play, whereas Blacks
queenside remains dormant.
Based on what weve seen so far, we can assume that the thirteen-year-old Morphy would have been
reluctant to settle for the quiet move 12 Bd2, even though this guarantees a clear advantage, and would
look for something better.
12 e5!
With such a big dynamic advantage, opening lines should be the priority.
12 ... f5
Calculation confirms that opening the position with 12 ... fxg5 helps White: he can respond with 13
Nxg5, when 13 ... h6 is refuted by the nice shot 14 Qxg6!, exploiting the weakness of Blacks back rank.
Developing a piece with 13 ... Na6 is no better, in view of 14 Rxf8+ Nxf8 15 Rf1 Ng6 16 Rf3,
threatening 17 Qxg6 hxg6 18 Rh3 mate, among other things; in this line 14 ... Qxf8 runs into 15 Re4, with
similar ideas.
13 Nd4!

Whites g5-bishop is now safe and Black cannot prevent further lines being opened with gain of time;
the safety of the black king is becoming an ever greater problem.
13 ... f4 14 e6! dxe6 15 Nxe6 Bxe6 16 Rxe6 Qc8
The relief that Black gains from the piece exchange does not compensate for the opening of the e-file,
as Morphy highlights with his next move.
17 Rxg6! hxg6 18 Qxg6 Qf5
If 18 ... Qe8, the confinement of the black king means that White can play 19 Qxe8 Rxe8 20 Rxf4 g6
(or 20 ... Kh7 21 Bf7) 21 Bf6+ and mates.
015
 19 Rxf4!
The prettiest and, at the same time, the quickest finish.
19 ... Qxg6
There is no salvation in 19 ... Qc5+ 20 Kh1, threatening 21 Qh5 mate and 21 Rh4 mate.
20 Rxf8+ Kh7 21 Bg8+ Kh8 22 Bf7+ Kh7 23 Bxg6+ Kxg6 24 Bf4 1-0

A.Meek-P.Morphy
Mobile 1855

Black to play

Morphys king is rather exposed something which is rarely seen in his games but this is not a
serious problem here, since White doesnt have any pieces in threatening positions. It will soon become
dramatically clear that it is in fact the white king that is in more danger.
10 ... Re8!
The Morphy formula: rapid mobilization of the forces. This move also enables the black king to retreat without imprisoning the rook on
h8. Now White must decide what to do about his attacked pawn.
11 Qb3+?
A very strange decision; moving his only developed piece makes a poor impression. If Morphy had
had the white pieces he would probably have chosen 11 0-0!, so that after 11 ... Rxe4 12 Qd5+ Re6 13
Bg5 Qf8 14 c3, he would have gained some compensation.
11 ... d5
The strange thing about Whites last move is that even the natural 11 ... Kg7 would have left Black
with a great advantage, highlighting the futility of the check. But Morphy wants more and increases the
pressure in the centre.
12 f3?! 016
 This weakens Whites position, especially the e1-h4 diagonal, and allows lines to be opened in
Blacks favour.
Again 12 0-0 was preferable, even though after 12 ... Rxe4 13 Nd2 Re8 14 Nf3, Black stands well
and has several good continuations such as 14 ... Qd6, followed by ... Bd7. Morphy might also have
considered returning the pawn with 14 ... Bg4, intending 15 Qxb7 Qd7, when Black threatens to capture
on f3, while after 16 Qb3 Rab8, all his pieces are active.
12 ... Na5
The alternative was 12 ... Qh4+ 13 g3 Qh3. Morphys choice is more unpleasant for White from the
practical viewpoint: where should he move his queen?
13 Qd3?
White fails to withstand the tension. This is the most obvious move, reinforcing e4, but Blacks
initiative very soon becomes a whirlwind. Instead, it was better to play 13 Qb5 c6 14 Qe2, when the
threat of an eventual b2-b4 provides White with some defensive resources; e.g. after 14 ... dxe4?! 15 0-
0!. This time Black should prefer 14 ... Qh4+ 15 g3 Qh3 with the advantage.
13 ... dxe4 14 fxe4 Qh4+ 15 g3 Rxe4+?
Black has an extra pawn and an attack, which can be conducted in various ways, but priority will be
concentrate forces against the enemy king. Nevertheless, and surprisingly, Morphys move is a mistake;
15 ... Qxe4+ was better, as Black doesnt need the queen anymore.

Exercise: Why was 15 ... Rxe4+? incorrect?

16 Kf2?
Answer: It is easy to overlook the defensive move 16 Be3!, when 16 ... Rxe3+ can be met by 17 Qxe3, while after 16 ... Qg4 17 0-0+
Bf5, Black is better but it is still a fight.
16 ... Qe7
017
 It was not necessary to defend the rook with the queen. It was more precise to play 16 ... Qf6+!, when
17 Bf4 Bf5 is strong, while after 17 Kg2 Black has 17 ... Bh3+! (in addition to 17 ... Bf5) 18 Kxh3 Qe6+
19 Kg2 Re2+ 20 Kf1 and now, for instance, 20 ... Re1+ 21 Kg2 Qd5+.
17 Nd2?
White misses the opportunity to complicate the struggle and improve his development at the same
time with 17 Bg5!, when the position would no longer be clear.
17 ... Re3! 18 Qb5
White is trying to keep the e2-square defended. If 18 Qxd4, Black wins with 18 ... Re2+ 19 Kg1 Bh3
etc.

18 ... c6!
Access to e2 is worth much more than the inactive knight on a5.
19 Qf1
After 19 Qxa5 Re2+, it is mate in two moves.
19 ... Bh3!
The quickest way to bring the a8-rook decisively into the attack.
20 Qd1
After 20 Qxh3 Re2+ 21 Kf3 (or 21 Kf1 Re1+) 21 ... Qe3+ 22 Kg4 h5+ and mates.
20 ... Rf8 21 Nf3 Ke8 0-1

P.Morphy-J.Schulten
Blindfold game, New York 1857

White to play
Blacks king has lost the right to castle and to do so artificially would cost several moves. For now
he is two pawns up, although White can regain one by taking on c6.
018
 16 Bd3
Objectively it was probably better to regain a pawn with 16 dxc6 bxc6 17 Bxc6, but the exchanges
would alleviate Blacks mobility problems after 17 ... Nxc6 18 Qxc6 g6, or first 18 ... Rb8. Morphy
prefers keep the tension by sacrificing a third pawn.
This seems akin to a game of chicken, dont you think? When he gave simultaneous displays,
played blindfold, or gave material odds, this was not an unusual scenario in Morphys games.
16 ... Nf6
Two pawns up is enough, Black seems to be thinking, and hes not wrong. It was possible to accept
the third pawn: 16 ... Nxd5 17 Nxd5 Bxb2 18 Rab1 Bf6, but then White could play, for example, 19
Nxf6 Qxf6 20 Rxb7 and even in the endgame after 20 ... Qxf3 21 gxf3, the difference in activity between
the two sides would be huge. White would likely regain another pawn and Blacks winning prospects
would be problematic.
17 Rae1
Of course 17 dxc6 bxc6 did not feature in Whites plans, which were to mobilize all his forces. Is
this the best move? Possibly not, but what Morphy was seeking here was to create tension, by giving
Black various options and thus the chance of making a mistake.
17 ... Bxc3
Black finally takes the offered pawn, which was a correct decision, as was 17 ... Nexd5.
18 Bxc3 Nfxd5 19 Ba1

Black is now three pawns up, but the situation is not as clear as it might appear. Although there are no
immediate threats, the white bishops are powerful, Blacks pieces rooks are not in play and his other
pieces are not well coordinated either. White plans to double rooks on the e-file, increasing the
pressure.
19 ... f6
This blunts Whites dark-squared bishop, at least for the moment, and plans to play ... Kf7 and ... Re8
as soon as possible.
20 Re6 Qd7 21 Rfe1
White has managed to activate his pieces, but ... three pawns are three pawns.
21 ... b5?
Once again we see Morphys opponent unable to withstand the tension. He doesnt have time to
prevent Bc4 in this manner. It was preferable to continue with his original idea of 21 ... Kf7,
overprotecting f6, or else play 21 ... Ng6, as the complications after 22 Bxf6! dont appear to be fatal
for Black; e.g. 22 ... gxf6 23 Bc4 (now 21 ... b5 becomes more comprehensible) 23 ... Kg7 24 Bxd5 Rf8.

019
 22 Rxe7!
Now the black kings defences are demolished.
22 ... Nxe7 23 Bxf6! Nd5 24 Be7+ Kg8
If 24 ... Ke8 then 25 Qh5+ g6 26 Bxg6+ or 26 Qxg6+ and mates.
25 Bf5 1-0

T.Barnes-P.Morphy
London 1858

Black to play

In this position Morphys king is the one that has remained in the centre, while his opponents king is
castled. The pin on the black knight might therefore seem serious at first sight; Morphy demonstrates that
this is not the case.
12 ... Ne5!
Forced; 12 ... Bd7? 13 Nxd4 Nxd4 14 Bxa8 is no use.
13 Bxa8?
Too greedy ... (Karsten Mller). The position would be balanced after 13 Bg5! Qxg5 14 Nxg5
Bxd1 15 Bxa8 Be2 16 cxd4 (16 Rfe1? d3 is worse for White) 16 ... Bxf1 17 Kxf1 Ke7.
13 ... Nxf3+ 14 gxf3 Bxf3 15 Qd2 dxc3

020
 16 Qg5
If 16 Bc6+, then not 16 ... Ke7? on account of 17 e5! cxd2 (17 ... dxe5 allows mate after 18 Qd7+,
while if 17 ... Qg6+ or 17 ... Qe6 then 18 Qg5+ is decisive) 18 exf6+ gxf6 19 Bxf3 and wins. However,
Black can instead play 16 ... Kf8! 17 e5 (or 17 Qg5 cxb2 18 Qxf6 gxf6 as in the game) 17 ... cxd2 18
exf6 Bxc6 19 b4 gxf6!, opening the g-file, when White has no time for 20 Bxd2 due to the threat of 20 ...
Rg8 mate.
16 ... cxb2 17 Bc6+ Ke7 18 Qxf6+
Now 18 e5 dxe5 is futile.
18 ... gxf6 19 Bf4 Rg8+ 20 Bg3 bxa1Q 21 Rxa1 f5!

As well as a decisive advantage in material, Black has the initiative.

22 a4
Or 22 Kf1 Bc3 23 Rc1 b4 with an easy win. The rest is straightforward.
22 ... Bb6 23 axb5 f4 24 bxa6 fxg3 25 hxg3 Rxg3+ 26 Kh2 Rg6 27 Rf1?
Allowing a quick mate, but White would not survive after 27 Ra3 Rg2+ 28 Kh3 Rxf2 29 a7 Bxa7 30
Rxa7 Rc2 either, and if 31 Rxc7+ then 31 ... Kf6 and 32 ... Bxe4.
27 ... Bd4 28 Kh3 Be5 29 Kh4 Bf4 30 a7 Rh6 mate

J.Owen-P.Morphy
London 1858

021
 Black to play

The material is equal, Blacks rooks are more active than Whites, but the white queen is more active
and the black king is more exposed. Which is the most important factor here? With his following move
Morphy provides the answer.
24 ... Rfxf2!
Tactics help Morphy, but this help does not fall from a clear sky. Let us recall what Lasker said: the brilliant move of a master is
essentially conditional not on a sudden and inexplicable realization, but on the placing of the pieces on the board.
25 Rxc2 Rxc2 26 Qxa5
The structure has changed greatly since the previous diagram. With his next move Black takes a great
step towards changing the evaluation of the position in his favour.
26 ... h6!
Now there can be no doubts as to which king is the weaker. Morphy threatens to win with 27 ... Qg5.

27 Rf2 Rc1+ 28 Rf1 Qc5!

With Blacks king safe it is now possible to involve the queen in the attack.
29 Qd2 Rc3!
29 ... Rxf1+ 30 Kxf1 Qxb5+ was advantageous, but on the principle of when you see a good move,
look for a better one, Morphy seeks more than just a queen ending with an extra pawn he wants to
win a pawn and at the same time keep the rooks on.
30 Qd4 Qxd4!
Here 30 ... Qxa3 was strong too, but Morphy sees a simpler way to win.
31 exd4 Rxa3 32 Rc1

022
 32 ... Kf7!
This reminds me of Rubinsteins 25 Kf2! in his famous game with Lasker, St Petersburg 1909.
Activating the king is more practical and perhaps more accurate than 32 ... Rb3 33 Rc8+ Kh7 34 Re8
Re3 35 Kf2 Re4 36 b6 Kg6, which would also be advantageous.
33 Rc7+ Kf6 34 Rxb7 Rd3 35 Kf2 Rxd4
The two connected central pawns supported by their king and rook are decisive.
36 Ke3 e5 37 b6 Rb4 38 Rb8 Ke7!

The black king heads towards the dangerous white pawn. The loss of both Blacks kingside pawns is
unimportant: his central passed pawns are further forward and will advance with the help of their king
and the rook. It is an easy win for Black.
39 b7 Kd7 40 Rg8 Rxb7 41 Rxg7+ Kc6 42 Rg6+ Kc5 43 Rxh6 Rb3+ 44 Ke2 e4 45 Rh8 Kd4 46
Rg8 Rb2+ 47 Kd1 Kd3 0-1

P.Morphy-H.Bird
Simultaneous game, London 1859

023
 White to play
White is currently a pawn down, but the black pawn on h2 appears doomed and then the strong white
centre would start to be important.
But capturing the intruder on h2 is not so simple. After 12 Rf2 Kg8, the immediate 13 Rxh2? loses to
13 ... Ng4, while 13 Qf3 Qd7 14 Rxh2 can be met by 14 ... Bg4 15 Qg2 Be6! (threatening to win
material with 16 ... Ng4) 16 Qg3 Nc6, when Black is ahead on development and the white king has no
pawn protection.
Further preparatory moves such as 14 Nc3 are possible, but after 14 ... Nc6 15 Rxh2 Be6 16 Rg2
Ng4, followed by ... Rf8, it is Black who has the initiative.
Morphy opts for another solution.
12 Qh5+ Kg8 13 Rxf6!
This is the idea, completely transforming the situation. In return for the exchange White is able to
weaken the black kingside, open the g-file, create a weakness on f6, etc.
It is not clear whether White will be objectively better, but his game is easier, more pleasant.
13 ... gxf6 14 Nc3 Re5?!
Black benefits little from driving the white queen back because, as we shall see, the rook is badly
placed here and the back rank is left weak.
It was better to redeploy his precariously placed piece with 14 ... Be6!, and at the same time control
the square d5. After, for instance, 15 Bf4 Nc6 16 Kxh2 Re7!, anticipating Rg1+, the position would offer
chances to both sides.
15 Qf3 Qd7
The clumsy position of the rook on e5 means that 15 ... Be6 is not so good now. White can play 16
d4!, since 16 ... Qxd4 17 Qg3+ Kh8 18 Bh6 forces Black to return the exchange: 18 ... Rg5 19 Bxg5 fxg5
20 Qxg5, when White would have the initiative; then if 20 ... Nc6, White could play 21 Ng6+! hxg6 22
Qh6+ Kg8 23 Qxg6+ and the e6-bishop is lost.
16 Bf4

024
 16 ... Nc6
Returning the exchange is again almost forced now. If 16 ... Re8 17 Bxh2, the pawn on f6 is
threatened and the g-file available for Whites remaining rook with a raging attack; for example, 17 ...
Rf8 18 Rg1+ Kh8 19 Qh5 Rg8 20 Rxg8+ Kxg8 21 Nd5 and there is no defence.
It is no better to play 16 ... Bg4 17 Qg2 Rh5 (controlling d5 and f5; if 17 ... Re8 instead, then 18
Nd5), since after 18 Nf5 Rxf5 19 exf5 Qxf5 20 Rf1 Nd7 21 Nd5 (threatening forks on e7 and e3) 21 ...
Qh5 22 Ne3 f5 23 Bxc7 (threatening to take on f5) 23 ... Rf8 24 Qxb7, material is now equal, while the
black position is very weak.
17 Kxh2
This keeps all options open and enables the rook to use the g1-square, but in this case it appears that
it was better for White to content himself with 17 Bxe5 Nxe5 (it is worse to play 17 ... fxe5, as after
18 Kxh2 Bg4 19 Rg1 h5 20 Nd5, all the white pieces are in the game) 18 Qxf6 Ng4 19 Qf3 Qd4 and
now 20 Nf5, when material is once again equal and Whites advantage is clear.
17 ... Bg4 18 Rg1

18 ... h5?
As often happened with Morphys opponents, Bird fails to withstand the tension of the struggle. 18 ...
Rg5! was much more tenacious: after 19 Qg3 h5 20 Bxg5 fxg5 21 Nf5, White is slightly better, but the
struggle can continue with 21 ... Rf8 or 21 ... Nd4. In contrast, Blacks position now goes rapidly
downhill.
19 Bxe5 fxe5 20 Nd5 Nd4? 21 Nf6+ Kh8
Or 21 ... Kf7 22 Qf2.
22 Qe3
Another way was to launch an immediate assault with 22 Ng6+! Kg7 23 Nxh5+, when 23 ... Kxg6 24
Rxg4 just wins, and 23 ... Kh6 24 Qf6 Qe6 25 Rxg4 is no better.
22 ... Qg7 23 Nxh5
025
 The last shred of protection is stripped away from the black king. White now has the attack and a
material advantage as well, so the rest is very simple for Morphy.
23 ... Qh7 24 Rxg4 Qxh5 25 Qh3 Kh7 26 c3 Ne6 27 Rg6
Also good was 27 Ng6 Qxh3+ 28 Kxh3 and the e5-pawn falls.
27 ... Re8
Here 27 ... Qe2+ would change nothing: after 28 Rg2 Qh5, White can play 29 Rg3.
28 Rxe6 Rxe6 29 Qxe6 Qxh4+ 30 Qh3 Qxh3+ 31 Kxh3
The pawn endgame with an extra pawn is easily won.
31 ... c5 32 Kg4 Kg6 33 Kf3 Kf6 34 Ke3 Ke6 35 d4 exd4+ 36 cxd4 cxd4+ 37 Kxd4 Kd6 38 e5+
Ke6 39 Ke4 Ke7 40 Kd5 Kd7 41 e6+ Ke7 42 Ke5 a6 43 a3 Ke8 44 Kd6 1-0
In the final two examples in this section, the characteristic of Morphys style that we have already identified, his tendency to complicate
and/or keep the tension, stands out even more clearly.

P.Morphy-T.Barnes
London 1858

White to play

White is a piece down for a pawn. He could win a second pawn with 19 Qxh7, but 19 ... c6 leaves
Blacks position very solid and Whites compensation would be insufficient; for instance, after 20 f4 e4
21 f5 Bf6 22 Qh6 Be5.
The main defect of Blacks game is that his king is still not secure. At present this is not obvious, as
the white pieces are not active enough. However, Morphy highlights this factor with his next two moves.
19 f4!
First of all White needs to open lines.
026
 19 ... e4
Exchanging a piece before closing the centre with 19 ... Bc5 20 Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21 Kh1 e4 fails to
improve the situation, as White can play 22 Bxd5! Bxd5 23 Qh5+ and 24 Rxd5.
20 Rxd5!
Riskier and more ambitious than 20 Bxd5 Bxd5 21 Qh5+ Nf7 22 Rxd5, when the engines are not
afraid to distance the queen from the action with 22 ... Qxa2. This continuation is inhuman, and while
it might be objectively correct, Black seems to have a simpler defence with 22 ... Qa6 and if 23 Qxh7
then 23 ... Qg6, while after 23 f5 Qf6 24 Qxh7 Rh8 25 Qg6 Qxg6 26 fxg6 Nd6, Black seems to be okay.
20 ... Bxd5 21 Qh5+

21 ... Kf8
The choice between this move, which loses the right to castle, and the self-pinning 21 ... Rg6 is a
difficult one. Objectively, they seem to be of similar strength, but from the practical viewpoint the rook
move is more complex and thus less advisable. A possible continuation might be 22 Bxd5 Bc5 23 Kh1
and Black is faced with another difficult decision.
After the natural 23 ... Qa6, White has 24 Re1 Bxe3 25 f5! and his initiative is very dangerous; for
instance, 25 ... Nf7 26 fxg6 Qxg6 (or 26 ... hxg6 27 Qh4! Kf8 28 h3 Bc5 29 Qf4) 27 Qxg6 hxg6 28 Rxe3
0-0-0 29 Be6+ Kb8 30 Kg1, and in all cases White comes out the winner. Instead, Black can sacrifice
his queen with 23 ... Bxe3!, and after 24 Bf7+ Nxf7 25 Qxa5 0-0-0 26 Qf5+ Rd7 27 Qxe4 Bb6, chances
are approximately equal.
22 Bxd5 Rg7 23 b4
White must dislodge the black queen so that he can advance his f-pawn.
23 ... Qa6 24 f5

24 ... Nf7?
Once again the opponent cracks under the pressure. The knight move looks like a good idea,
reinforcing the defences, but it fails tactically. It was
027
essential to play 24 ... Qf6! 25 Bd4 Qg5, when 26
Bxg7+ Kxg7 27 Qe8! Bf6 28 Kh1 leads to a complex position.
25 f6! Bxf6 26 b5 Qd6 27 Bxf7
The refutation, threatening 28 Bc5.
27 ... b6 28 Bh6

White has a material advantage and more active pieces, so the game is won.
28 ... Ke7 29 Bxg7 Bxg7 30 Bb3 Rf8 31 Rf7+ Rxf7 32 Qxf7+ Kd8 33 Qxg7 Qd1+ 34 Kf2 Qd2+
35 Kg3 e3 36 Qf6+ Kc8 37 Be6+ Kb7 38 Qf3+ 1-0

P.Morphy-C.Maurian
Odds game, New Orleans 1866

White to play

In this game Morphy played without his queens knight but, as we can see, he managed to regain the
material and now his three remaining pieces are attacking the black king.
There are possible mating patterns here; for instance, after 34 Rg7+ Kh8, White could play 35 Nf8,
threatening 36 Ng6 mate, and the knight is taboo in view of mate in two with the rooks; but Black has 35
... Re1+ 36 Kf2 Re2+ 37 Kg1 (37 Kf3?? allows the entry of the other rook with lethal effect: 37 ... Ra3+
38 Kf4 Rf2 mate) 37 ... Re1+ and draws, since the attempt to flee with 38 Kg2?? loses to 38 ... Rxa2+
39 Kh3 Bf1+ 40 Kh4 Rxh2 mate.
How to keep up the pressure?
34 a4!!
With this surprising move, which presents Black with two passed pawns, White prevents the deadly
rook invasion on a1 and puts Black under pressure again.
34 ... bxa3?
028
 We already know why this loses.
Black can seek another invasion route with 34 ... Rae8, which is good enough to draw if he manages to find the right moves: 35 Rg7+
Kh8 36 Nf8! (threatening 37 Ng6 mate, or 37 Rh7+ Kg8 38 Rcg7 mate if the knight is taken; but Black has a narrow path to survival by
harassing the white king) 37 Kg2 Bf1+! 38 Kf3 (not 38 Kf2?? R8e2+ 39 Kf3 Bg2+ 40 Kf4 Rf1 mate) 38 ... Be2+! 39 Kf2 Bh5! (threatening
40 ... R8e2 mate) 40 Rh7+ Kg8 41 Rxh5 R1e2+ and now 42 Kf3 R8e3+ (42 ... R2e3+? leads to an inferior rook ending after 43 Kf4 Re2 44
Kxf5 R2e5+ 45 Kg6 Rxh5 46 Kxh5 Rxf8 47 Rxc6 Rb8 48 Kg6 b3 49 Rc1) 43 Kf4 Re5 (threatening 44 ... Rf2 mate) 44 Rh8+ Kxh8 45
Ng6+ Kg8 46 Nxe5 fxe5+ 47 Kxf5 Rxh2 48 Rxc6 Ra2 should be a draw.
However, the simplest way to defend was to let the bishop cover the g6-square from d3 by playing 34
... f4!; e.g. after 35 Rg7+ Kh8 36 Nf8 Re1+ 37 Kf2 Rf1+ 38 Kg2 f3+ 39 Kh3 Bd3.
If instead 35 gxf4, then 35 ... b3 (35 ... Rae8? fails to 36 f5!) 36 Rb7 b2! (not 36 ... Kh8? due to 37
Nf8! again) 37 Rxb2 Kh8 and Black is okay; e.g. 38 Rb4 Rg8+ 39 Kf2 Bd5 (intending ... Rge8) 40 Rbb7
Rg2+ 41 Kf1 Ree2 42 Rd8+ Bg8 43 Nxf6 Rgf2+ 44 Kg1 Rg2+ with perpetual check.
Lets see one more example: 35 Rd4 b3 (35 ... Bd5 is also fine) 36 Rxc4 b2 37 Nxf6+ Kf8! (better
than 37 ... Rxf6?! 38 Rb7) 38 Rb4 Re1+ 39 Kf2 b1Q 40 Rxb1 Rxb1 41 Rd7!, followed by Nh7+, Nf6+
etc with another draw.
35 Rg7+ Kh8 36 Nf8! 1-0
Morphy on the Defensive
Finally, lets look at three examples of another important facet of Morphys play, complementing his recognized mastery of the attack
this is his great resourcefulness in defence.

A.Anderssen-P.Morphy
6th matchgame, Paris 1858

Black to play

Blacks position is in danger. He is the exchange up but is faced with the threat of 40 Rg3. The pin on
the g7-rook is unpleasant and the black queens mobility is restricted both by the need to watch out for
Ne5 and hinder the advance of the passed d-pawn. All this means that Blacks defence is far from easy.
The natural 39 ... Rc8? loses to 40 Qf6!, with the threat of 41 Ne5 Rxc3 42 Qf8+ Rg8 43 Nf7 mate,
while 40 ... Kg8 loses to 41 Qe6+, and 40 ... Qe8 fails to 41 d7 (or 41 Ne5 Rxc3 42 d7) 41 ... Qxd7 42
Ne5 Qe8 43 Nf7+ Kg8 44 Nh6+ Kh8 45 Nxf5 etc.
Black has no time to unpin the rook with 39 ... h6? and ... Kh7, as after 40 Rg3 Qd7, White can
regroup his forces and win with 41 Ne5 Qb7 42 d7.
Finally, 39 ... Kg8? is refuted by 40 Rg3! Rxg3 41 d7.
So how can Black defend?
39 ... e3!
An elegant way to prevent 40 Rg3. Now White needs to realize that he must forget about winning and
instead seek a way to draw.
40 Rxe3?
Anderssen fails to adapt to the altered situation. With 40 Qf6! he could have made a draw; for
instance, 40 ... Rxc4 41 Qf8+ Rg8 42 Qf6+ etc. Black loses if he tries 40 ... Qd1+? 41 Kh2 Qd5, since
42 Nxe3 defends g2, and then 42 ... Qf7 43 Qd4! is029very strong; e.g. 43 ... Rxc3 44 Qxc3 h6 (44 ... Qd7
meets the same reply) 45 Qe5, followed by 46 Nxf5 or 46 Nd5 with a decisive initiative.
Surprisingly, 40 Qxe3! is also sufficient, thanks to the strength of the passed pawn. For example, 40
... Rxc4 41 Rxc4 Qxc4 42 Qe8+ Qg8 (or 42 ... Rg8 43 Qe5+) 43 d7 ends in a draw by perpetual check
after 43 ... Rxg2 44 d8Q Rg1+ etc.
40 ... Rxc4
As simple as that the queen controls e8 and there is no time to create counterplay.
41 Qf6 Rc1+ 42 Kh2 Qxf4+ 0-1

P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
London 1859

White to play
The endgame looks unpleasant for White. His own pawns present no danger, whereas the black
pawns look very menacing. To discover the most secure defence it is essential to possess a solid
knowledge of the endgame, which Morphy now exhibits.
40 Bxa3!
Calculating that he cannot be prevented from reaching a fortress position.
40 ... bxa3 41 Kd4 Bxf4 42 Kxc4 Bxh2 43 Kb3 Bd6 44 Kc2 -
Reaching a theoretical draw; the white king cannot be dislodged from b1 and c2.

P.Morphy-W.Thomas
Odds game, Philadelphia 1859

White to play

030
 This game began with Morphy giving odds of a knight. His position now looks desperate, since Black
threatens mate in two with 45 ... Be1+.
Note that 45 Rxe4+? Kxe4 46 Kg5 fails to draw, since Black manages to hang on to a vital pawn after
46 ... Be7+ 47 Kxg6 h4 48 Kh5 Kf4 and will win by capturing the pawns on g2 and h3 and queening his
h-pawn. The point is that, even though Black has the wrong bishop in respect of the h1-square, the
white king will be unable to reach g1.
Black also wins after 45 Rf6+? Bf5 46 g3+ Ke5 47 Rf7 Ke6, followed by 48 ... Be7+.
Morphy finds the only way to save the game.
45 g3+!
This is the correct move order, improving the first variation mentioned above.
45 ... Kf5 46 Rxe4! Kxe4 47 Kg5
This is the difference; Black is unable to save his pawn by ... h5-h4, so the exchange of all the
remaining pawns is inevitable.
47 ... Kf3 48 Kxg6 Kxg3 49 Kxh5 Kxh3 -

031
Chapter Two
Games Against Family Members
Paul Charles Morphy was born in New Orleans on the 22nd of June 1837. According to his uncle
Ernest, Paul learned to play without anyone teaching him how to move the pieces, just by watching how
his uncle and his father were playing. Curiously, this beginning is very similar to the one that legend
attributes to Jos Ral Capablanca.
Chess was played by all the family; and Morphys father Alonzo Michael, his brother Edward, and
his uncle Ernest who was one of the best chess players in the city were his first opponents.
Let us look at some games from that period, in which the stamp of Paul Morphy is already clear.

Game 1
P.Morphy-A.Morphy
New Orleans 1849
Evans Gambit [C51]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4

At 12 years old Morphy already played the Evans Gambit regularly; it is a pawn sacrifice which
allows White to gain time to develop his pieces and occupy the centre, which, as Euwe stated, were two
of the three aims that Morphy was striving for.
Throughout his short career Morphy played this position many times and with both colours. He also
made use of it when giving odds of his queens knight.
It was tried occasionally by Fischer (albeit mostly in simuls) and in more recent times by Kasparov
and it keeps appearing from time to time at the top level. At the time of writing it is not going through its
best period. Fabiano Caruana, for instance, does not have a good opinion of the opening because,
according to him: The Evans Gambit may have a romantic reputation, but modern opening analysis has
entirely defanged it.
4 ... Bxb4 5 c3 Bc5
The alternative is 5 ... Ba5, which makes no difference if Black plays ... Bb6 as in the game, but it
gives Black more options after 6 d4 as the bishop is not attacked. We shall see this in later games.
6 d4 exd4 7 cxd4 Bb6 8 0-0

Question: There are no immediate threats. What has White got for his pawn?

Answer: White has achieved his objective of occupying the centre and he has the freer game, while Black still has his king in the centre.
8 ... Na5
032
 This move is successful in dislodging the bishop from its active position, pressing against the weak
point f7, but at the cost of giving up control of the centre and Black runs the risk of the knight
remaining out of play, whereas the white bishop will still be active on d3.
8 ... d6 is more popular, to develop the c8-bishop and control the e5-square. Against this Morphy
played all three main lines: 9 d5, 9 Nc3 (see Games 13-14) and, less frequently, 9 Bb2.
9 Bd3 d5?
This is already excessively ambitious. Black wants to develop his queenside and castle long, but
opening lines when the king is still in the centre is something that should be assessed very carefully.
In another game Alonzo Morphy, Pauls father, continued more cautiously with 9 ... Ne7 10 Nc3 0-0,
when his king was much better placed. The game continued 11 Ba3 d6 12 e5 Bf5 13 exd6 cxd6 14 Ne4
d5?! (14 ... Nc4 is better, or else 14 ... Bxe4 15 Bxe4 Re8) 15 Nf6+! gxf6 16 Bxe7 Qxe7 17 Bxf5 Nc4?
(a serious error; 17 ... Rfe8 is better, intending to defend with 18 ... Qe2 with a serious struggle ahead)
18 Re1 (it is very tempting to activate a piece with gain of time, as we shall see in many of Morphys
games, but in this case 18 Nh4!, giving the queen access to the weakened black kingside, was much
stronger) 18 ... Qd6

Exercise: What should White play here?

Answer: With the black queen on d6, the move 19 Nh4 is less strong, though still advantageous: 19 ... Qf4 20 Qh5 h6 21 Nf3!
(threatening 22 g3) 21 ... Nd6 22 Bh3 (renewing the threat), when Black has nothing better than 23 ... Ne8 24 g3 Ng7, sacrificing the d5-
pawn.
It is even better to eliminate a potential defender with 19 Nd2!, with the threat of 20 Qg4+ Kh8 21
Qh5 mating or 20 Qh5 at once (which would be the response to 19 ... Nxd2). There is no good defence:
19 ... Qf4 20 Qh5 h6 now fails to 21 Nxc4 dxc4 22 Re4 Qd2 (or 22 ... Qg5 23 Rg4) 23 Rd1 and wins.
Instead, Morphy chose the incorrect 19 Ne5?, which failed to justify itself after 19 ... fxe5 20 Qg4+
Kh8 21 Qh5 Kg7 22 Qg5+ Kh8 23 Qh5 h6, although White ended up winning an error-strewn game.
10 exd5 Qxd5

033
 11 Ba3!
It was difficult to decide between this typical Evans Gambit move, highlighting the absence of the b6-
bishop from its original diagonal and hindering Blacks kingside castling, and the equally strong
alternatives 11 Nc3 or 11 Re1+.
11 ... Be6 12 Nc3 Qd7

Exercise: There are several tempting moves; what do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer: Given a breathing space, Black will castle queenside, maintaining his extra pawn, so this is a critical moment. White must
prevent Black from bringing his king to safety at all costs.
13 d5!
It was equally strong to play 13 Bb5 c6 14 d5! cxb5 15 Ne5!, but there is no need to enter
complications when there is a simpler continuation which is just as effective.
13 ... Bxd5 14 Nxd5 Qxd5

034
 15 Bb5+!
In many of Morphys games we clearly see the importance of the time element in chess. In certain positions, being able to play two
moves running is more valuable than the material it costs. This is in accordance with Euwes explanation of Morphys style, based on: 1.
rapid development of the pieces; 2. control of the centre; and 3. open lines.
Here he sacrifices the bishop to keep the black king stranded in the centre, and does so in ideal circumstances, since he regains the piece
straight away.
The immediate 15 Re1+ Kd8 16 Be4! was also winning, forcing the exchange of queens, which
brings the a1-rook into play: it is mate after 16 ... Qxd1 17 Raxd1+ Kc8 18 Bf5+ Kb8 19 Re8.
15 ... Qxb5 16 Re1+ Ne7

17 Rb1!
We shall see this scenario many times: its always nice to activate a piece with a gain of time. In this
case Morphy wants to force the black queen to decentralize.
There is more than one way to win here: 17 Bxe7 is decisive, as is 17 Rxe7+ Kf8 and now 18 Ne5,
or 18 Rb1 as in the game, (18 Re5+ is less effective due to 18 ... c5, although White is still winning.)
17 ... Qa6 18 Rxe7+ Kf8 19 Qd5
All Blacks pieces are ineffectual, whereas Whites occupy ideal positions. Mate in a few moves is
inevitable.
19 ... Qc4
Preventing 20 Qxf7 mate, but that was just one of the threats.
20 Rxf7+ Kg8 21 Rf8 mate

Game 2
P.Morphy-E.Morphy
New Orleans 1850
Evans Gambit [C52]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Ba5

Ernest Morphy, Pauls uncle, retreats his bishop to a5 instead of c5, as played by Pauls father in the
035
previous game.
6 d4

6 ... exd4
Fabiano Caruana has no faith in this move, because: The old games, such as those by Anderssen, had
Black capturing on d4 and coming under attack, often losing in under 30 moves (the Evergreen Game
being the most famous example).
The most popular treatment in the 21st century is 6 ... d6 7 Qb3 Qd7 8 dxe5 Bb6, and if 9 Nbd2 dxe5,
Black gains a good position and has scored well. In an attempt to revive the line White has tried 9 a4,
but after 9 ... Na5 10 Qa2 Nxc4 11 Qxc4 Ne7 12 exd6 cxd6 13 0-0 0-0, as in H.Nakamura-V.Anand,
London 2014, Black already has a comfortable game and is the only player with chances of an
advantage, according to Caruana.
In L.Nisipeanu-F.Caruana, Dortmund 2015, White tried 12 Ba3 (? Caruana), when 12 ... 0-0 was
good, but 12 ... d5 13 exd5 Qxd5 is even better and White will most likely end up in a sad endgame
with a wrecked structure, and Black has a bishop pair, according to Caruana, describing the outcome of
an Evans Gambit completely lacking in any trace of Romanticism.
7 0-0 Bxc3?!
Black is now no less than three pawns up which, other things being equal, would constitute a decisive
advantage. Thats not the case here, and neglecting development is really not advisable against the
Evans Gambit. This is not exactly a losing move, but it requires very precise defence.
The most popular move here is 7 ... Nge7, ahead of 7 ... d6 (as in Game 13). The third placed choice
7 ... bxc3 is again more risky, as we shall see in Game 15.
8 Nxc3 dxc3 9 Ba3
The alternative was another typical Evans Gambit move, 9 Qb3. It is difficult to say which is better.
Lwenthal pointed out that Morphy deviated here from the line recommended in the German magazine
Schachzeitung in 1851: 9 Ng5, which leads one to believe that this game was perhaps played after
1850. In any case the position after 9 Ng5 Nh6 does not appear to be better for White than Morphys
choice.
9 ... d6

036
 Exercise (easy): How did Morphy continue?

Answer:
10 Qb3
Of course, this is the other typical move. There was not really any other way to activate the queen,
which now increases the pressure on f7.
10 ... Nh6

Exercise: Blacks response was forced. Now what for White?

Answer:
11 Qxc3
We need prose as well as poetry! This regains one of the pawns and attacks g7, with an advantage in
development.
11 ... Qf6

Exercise: Why did Black reject 11 ... 0-0 - ?

Answer: Because with 11 Qxc3 White also opened the long dark diagonal. He would continue 12 Bb2 forcing 12 ... Qf6, and in the
ending arising after 13 Qxf6 gxf6 14 Bxf6 the position opens up to the benefit of the bishop pair; furthermore the white rooks stand ready to
be activated on the b- and c- files. All this would give White good compensation for the pawn.

Exercise: How did Morphy reply to 11 ... Qf6 - ?

Answer: With another pawn sacrifice, avoiding the exchange of queens and reopening the a3-f8 diagonal, after which the black king will
037
be exposed once more.
12 e5! dxe5
It is noteworthy that simplifying with 12 ... Nxe5 13 Nxe5 dxe5?! (naturally not 13 ... Qxe5? 14 Rfe1)
14 Rae1 would favour the better developed side, since he would have more open lines, as we shall see,
compared with the game.
In this variation it would be better to play 13 ... 0-0!, when 14 Rac1 Qxe5 15 Qxe5 dxe5 16 Bxf8
Kxf8 leaves Black with three pawns for the exchange. However, this would be offset by him having a
knight on the rim and an undeveloped queenside, while the three white pieces would be active and ready
to invade after, for instance, 17 Rfd1. Admittedly, the position would not be totally clear.
13 Rfe1 Bd7

Exercise: The black monarch cannot castle on the kingside, so seeks refuge on the other wing. What did Morphy play here?

Answer:
14 Rab1!
Not 14 Nxe5?, as this would be answered by 14 ... 0-0-0, when Blacks king is safer and he remains
two pawns up, albeit still in a uncomfortable position.
Morphy opted for making the queenside the new battlefront.
14 ... 0-0-0

Exercise: Blacks response came as no surprise. What had Morphy planned?

Answer:
15 Ba6!
An accurate shot that has the devastating effect of a knockout blow, even though objectively it is not
winning.
15 ... Na5?
This loses fairly easily; it is Blacks only clearly bad move in the whole game.
The critical line was 15 ... bxa6! 16 Qb3, threatening mate. Although Blacks position is tottering, the
game is still not at all clear.
Now 16 ... Be6? fails to 17 Qb7+ Kd7 18 Rbd1+ Nd4 (and the king cannot retreat because the c6-
knight falls) 19 Nxe5+ Ke8 20 Rxd4 Rxd4 21 Qa8+ (a preparatory check to ensure that d8 is occupied;
21 Qc6+ Kd8 22 Qa8+ Bc8 23 Nc6+ wins more slowly) 21 ... Qd8 22 Qc6+ Rd7 23 Nxf7! and the
black position collapses.
Instead, 16 ... Bg4! is better, so that the knight on c6 remains defended by the queen. After 17 Qb7+
Kd7 18 Rbd1+ Ke8 19 Rxd8+ Kxd8!, the white attack is dangerous, but it is not easy find a decisive
continuation. (Not 19 ... Nxd8? 20 Qxc7 Bxf3 21 Rxe5+ Ne6 22 Qc8+ Qd8 23 Rxe6+ and mates.)

038
 Exercise: How did Morphy punish his uncles mistake?

Answer:
16 Rec1
Bringing up fresh troops. Now there is no good way to defend c7.
16 ... Bc6 17 Qxa5 bxa6 18 Qxa6+ Kd7
White has succeeded in opening up the defences of the black king and all the white pieces are
attacking.

Exercise: Now there are many good moves; Morphy chose the strongest what is it?

Answer:
19 Rxc6!
Of course; if 19 ... Qxc6 then 20 Nxe5+ wins.
19 ... Qf5
Leaving the rook on c6 leads to mate, but there was no defence. The rest is a massacre.
20 Rxc7+! Ke8 21 Qc6+ Qd7 22 Rb8 Qxc6 23 Re7+ Kf8 24 Rxd8+ Qe8 25 Rexe8 mate

In 1849, at the age of twelve, Morphy played about fifty informal games against the master Eugene
Rousseau, at that time considered to be the strongest chess player in the southern states of the USA.
Morphy won comprehensively. We saw an extract from one of those games in Chapter One.
In 1850 the Hungarian master Johann Lwenthal, a future opponent of Morphys in a serious match,
visited several cities in the south, amongst them New Orleans. Not very enthusiastically, since he
thought it would be a waste of his time, he agreed to play against the young Paul Morphy. Lwenthal was
039
surprised by the strength of the young prodigy. They played three games, and Morphy won 2- (other
sources say that the score was 3-0).
Lets look at their second game.

Game 3
P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
New Orleans 1850
Sicilian Defence [B21]

1 e4 c5 2 f4 e6 3 Nf3 d5

4 exd5

Question: Hmm, what an ugly move! It just seems to help Blacks game. Is it the best move?

Answer: Youre right, it leads to an ugly position in which White would really rather have his pawn back on f2! We now know that the
best move is 4 Bb5+, with the idea of 4 ... Bd7 5 Bxd7+ Nxd7 6 d3, maintaining his pawn formation. Another possibility is simply 4 e5.
The major beneficiary of the exchange on d5 is the c8-bishop. This decision by the then (very) young
Morphy reminds us that against the French Defence (which was not very common at that time) 1 e4 e6 2
d4 d5, Morphys favourite move was 3 exd5.
4 ... exd5 5 d4 Bg4?!

Question: Didnt you just say that the major beneficiary of 4 exd5 was this bishop? In that case, why is this move dubious?

Answer: The bishops increased freedom of movement doesnt mean that it should be moved straight away, unless there is some benefit
to be gained.
Here the old advice of knights before bishops is valid. In other words, its best to start with the moves that youre sure youll want to
play, such as 5 ... Nc6.
6 Be2

040
 6 ... Bxf3?
There is no visible benefit from this unnecessary exchange, made without even waiting for White to
play h2-h3. From f3 the white bishop puts pressure on the d5-pawn and Black gains nothing in return.
There is no doubt that 6 ... Nc6 was better.
7 Bxf3 Nf6 8 0-0 Be7
If Black wants to play with an isolated queens pawn (IQP) it would be preferable to exchange on d4
at once; after 8 ... cxd4 9 Qxd4 Nc6, White is slightly better, but his coordination is not as good as in the
game. 8 ... Nc6 also looks an improvement.
9 Be3 cxd4
Having dismissed 8 ... cxd4, Black now makes this exchange in rather inferior circumstances, with
the white bishop already on e3.
Changing the structure with 9 ... c4 was worth considering; then after 10 b3 cxb3 11 axb3 0-0 12 c4,
it looks best to play 12 ... Bb4!, preventing 13 Nc3 from creating very unpleasant pressure on d5.
10 Bxd4 0-0 11 Nc3 Nc6

Exercise: What do you think Morphy played here?

Answer:
12 Bxf6
A very striking decision; instead of hanging on to his pair of bishops and keeping the isolated pawn
on d5 with 12 Bf2, which would retain a static positional advantage, Morphy opts for dynamism, based
on the strength of his knight (which will soon settle on d5) and the greater activity of his pieces.
12 ... Bxf6 13 Nxd5 Bxb2 14 Rb1 Bd4+ 15 Kh1 Rb8
White is slightly more active, but thats all; there is nothing immediate. Morphy is planning to make
gradual progress by forcing his opponent to take decisions.
041
 16 c3
First of all he forces the bishop to decide which diagonal to remain on.
16 ... Bc5
The alternative was 16 ... Bf6, but that would suffer from the disadvantage of having to keep the
queen tied to its defence, so as not to allow his pawns to be doubled. The two tempi required for a plan
of ... g7-g6 and ... Bg7 would prove too much. After 17 Qa4, for instance, there is no time for 17 ... g6?
18 Rfd1 Bg7 due to 19 Nb6, followed by 20 Nd7, and White wins material.

Exercise: What was Morphys idea in forcing the black bishop to choose between the two diagonals?

Answer:
17 f5
Creating the latent threat of advancing to f6, and suddenly the ugly duckling f4-pawn becomes a
thing of beauty, a real asset to White. Nevertheless, the position still remains rather unclear.
17 ... Qh4?!
A difficult choice. Years later Lwenthal commented that he should have played 17 ... f6, but White
would still be better, thanks to the significant weakness on e6, and could continue 18 Qb3 Kh8 19 Nf4.
Covering the f6-square with 17 ... Be7 looks better; even so, White has the more comfortable game.
18 g3 Qg5

Exercise: How did Morphy proceed?

Answer:
19 f6!
Naturally, this was the idea. Now Black must choose between two evils: leaving the wedge on f6
042
after 19 ... g6 or allowing lines to be opened against his castled position.
19 ... Ne5?!
In view of what happens in a few moves it is easy to recommend 19 ... g6, but it wasnt a simple
decision.
20 fxg7 Rfd8

Exercise: How did Morphy continue?

Answer:
21 Be4!
Of course, preparing an assault along the f-file and the d1-h5 diagonal.
21 ... Qxg7

22 Qh5
A difficult decision. Sometimes the problem of having a favourable position is that there can be
several attractive options and you have to calculate and then select the best one.
It seems clear that White is going to bring his major pieces in to join the struggle. He can start with
22 Qh5, and then perhaps Rf5 and Rbf1. Or he can begin with 22 Rf5. Which move order is best? This
sort of decision requires time to analyse.
Furthermore there is even another possibility, a tactical one, namely the shot 22 Bxh7+. Lets begin
with this last option: 22 Bxh7+! is in fact a good move; White has some advantage after 22 ... Kf8 (or 22
... Kxh7? 23 Qh5+ Kg8 24 Nf6+ Kf8 25 Qxe5) 23 Be4 Rd6 24 Qd2, but probably this did not satisfy
Morphy and he wanted to obtain more from the position.
It is understandable that Morphy didnt play the strongest move, which was 22 Rf5!. As we said, the
idea is to play Qh5 and Rbf1, and Black is surprisingly defenceless; e.g. 22 ... Kh8 23 Qh5 Ng6 (or 23
... Bd6 24 Rbf1) 24 Rbf1 Rf8 25 Nf6, attacking the bishop and threatening 26 Nd7. Lets examine
another defence: 22 ... Ng6 23 Nf6+ Kh8 24 Qf3 (defending the knight and threatening 25 Rxc5) 24 ...
Be7 25 Nxh7! and the knight is taboo, since Black would lose the queen.

Question: Why do you say that it is understandable that Morphy didnt choose 22 Rf5! - ? The move order, compared with 22 Qh5,
doesnt seem to make much difference.

Answer: Agreed, its very difficult to discern the point, which is that after 22 Qh5 Black can reply 22 ... Rd6 (the only move to defend),
whereas 22 Rf5 renders 22 ... Rd6 impossible, because the rook on d6 incurs a tactical weakness that can be exploited by 23 Rb5!! (a
computer move which can easily escape attention, since Whites general idea is to concentrate his forces against the black king) and now 23
... b6? loses to 24 Rxc5 bxc5 25 Ne7+, while 23 ... Rc6 is met similarly by 24 Rxc5 Rxc5 25 Ne7+ Kh8 26 Qd6 and White wins.
22 ... Rd6! 23 Bxh7+
Morphy seeks more than just an extra pawn in an ending after 23 Ne7+ Kh8 24 Nf5 Qg6 25 Qxg6
Rxg6 26 Rxb7.
23 ... Kf8
23 ... Qxh7 loses quickly to 24 Ne7+ Kh8 25 Qxe5+, or 24 Qxe5 at once.
24 Be4 Rh6
Now we see why it was important to prevent 22 043
... Rd6. It wasnt easy, was it?
 25 Qf5 Qxg3 26 Rb2

Exercise: Lwenthal has defended very well so far. Now White threatens to win with 27 Rg2. What should Black play here?

26 ... Re8?
Lwenthal cracks. This is a logical move, bringing an inactive piece into play and defending the
insecure knight on e5, but Black has neglected to ask himself the all-important question: What can my
opponent do in reply?.
Answer: The correct continuation was 26 ... Qh3!, putting pressure on the f1-rook and gaining the huge relief of exchanging queens.
After 27 Rg2 (27 Qf4 is answered by 27 ... Rh4) 27 ... Qxf5 28 Rxf5 Re8, Black would obtain the best position he has had all game.
27 Nf6
A simple move that wins material.
27 ... Re6 28 Rg2
White picks up the exchange and simplifies, which is more than enough to win. There were other
ways, such as 28 Qxe6 fxe6 29 Nh5+ and 28 Nd7+ Ke8 29 Nxc5.
28 ... Qxg2+
If 28 ... Qh4, White wins with 29 Nd7+, among other things.
29 Bxg2
Capturing with the king was slightly better, gaining time on the game, but at this stage its not
important.
29 ... Rhxf6 30 Qxf6 Rxf6 31 Rxf6 Ng4

Exercise: Here White has an accurate move which removes all doubt as to whether his position is winning. What should he play?

Answer:
044
 32 Rf5!
The pressure on the c5-bishop means that the check on f2 loses all its strength.
32 ... b6
Defending both the bishop and the b-pawn. After 32 ... Nf2+ 33 Kg1, none of the discovered checks
are dangerous.
33 Bd5 Nh6 34 Rf6
Heading for the weakened c6-square.
34 ... Kg7 35 Rc6 a5 36 Rc7 Kg6 37 Kg2 f6 38 Kf3 Nf5

Exercise (easy): How to proceed?

Answer: Exchanging pieces makes the technical task easier.

39 Be4 Kg5 40 Bxf5 Kxf5 41 h4
Advancing the passed pawn also helps to improve the situation of the white king.
41 ... Kg6 42 Rc6 Kh5 43 Kg3 f5 44 Rf6 f4+ 45 Kxf4 Bf2 46 Ke4 Bc5

Exercise (easy): Whites position is winning. What is the quickest way to conclude the game?

Answer:
47 Rf5+
After returning the exchange, the pawn endgame is an easy win for White, in view of the superior
position of his king.
47 ... Kxh4 48 Rxc5 bxc5 49 Kd5 1-0

In December 1850 Paul Morphy immersed himself in his studies and played very little chess until
045
1857. Lets look at one of his games from that period.

Game 4
L.McConnell-P.Morphy
New Orleans 1852
Evans Gambit [C52]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Ba5 6 0-0

The immediate 6 d4 is the alternative, as we saw in Game 2.
6 ... Nf6 7 d4 0-0 8 dxe5
Both H.Montgomery (New Orleans, blindfold simul 1857) and A.Mongredien (Paris 1859) played
the erroneous 8 d5? against Morphy, closing up the game. After 8 ... Ne7, they tried respectively 9 Qc2
and 9 Qd3, but failed to gain sufficient compensation for the pawn.
There are few modern games with this position, but judging by the examples from the 19th century, 8
Nxe5 appears to offer White more chances than his move in the game.
8 ... Nxe4

9 Ba3
Here 9 Bd5 has been suggested and it is true that, as with most gambits, great care is needed when
capturing further material: if 9 ... Nxc3?! 10 Nxc3 Bxc3, White has 11 Ng5! and now Blacks best is to
sacrifice his queen with 11 ... Bxa1 12 Qh5 Qxg5 13 Bxg5 Bxe5, hoping to survive the complications
after 14 Bxc6 g6!.
On the other hand, 9 ... Bxc3!? is fully playable. Whites compensation is more than doubtful after 10
Nxc3? Nxc3, followed by 11 ... Nxd5; while in the event of 10 Bxe4 Bxa1 11 Bxh7+ Kxh7 12 Ng5+ Kg8
13 Qh5, the queen sacrifice 13 ... Qxg5, followed by ... Bxe5, takes place under better conditions than in
the previous line.
9 ... d6 10 exd6?

Question: On move eight it was wrong to close the game, so why now is it a mistake to open things up?

Answer: We are talking about two different evils here, but evils is what they both are.
With 8 d5, closing the game restricted the activity of Whites own pieces. In general, when you are a
pawn down but have the more active pieces, it is appropriate to open the game, but you have to choose
the best moment to do so. Right now taking on d6 facilitates Blacks development, since the e4-knight
reaches an ideal square by recapturing on d6.
It was better to maintain the tension with something like 10 Qc2, or else 10 Bd5, after which 10 ...
Bxc3 11 Bxc6! bxc6 12 Nxc3 Nxc3 13 Qc2 Nb5 14 Bb2 is unclear.
10 ... Nxd6 11 Bb3 Bg4

046
 The failure of Whites opening is clear; Black completes the development of his minor pieces and
remains with an extra pawn, while White still has to develop his queens knight.
12 h3 Bh5 13 Qd5 Bg6 14 Ne5?!

Question: From what weve seen, moving a developed piece for a second time is not something that Morphy would do, is it?

Answer: White wants to obtain the bishop pair in order to have some compensation for the pawn. The problem is that it is not easy to
improve his position. He could try 14 Re1, bringing an inactive piece into play, but after 14 ... Qf6, the situation is no better. Another
possibility was 14 Nd4 (also moving a developed piece), but 14 ... Nxd4 15 cxd4 b6 (or the sharper 15 ... b5) still sees Black standing better,
because White would have to lose time developing the b1-knight.
14 ... Nxe5 15 Qxa5
Gaining the bishop pair, but leaving his pieces rather uncoordinated. It would have been worse to
play 15 Qxe5 Bb6, as the pressure on d6 could not be increased with 16 Rd1? due to 16 ... Re8 or 16 ...
Qh4.

Exercise: How did Morphy improve the coordination of his pieces?

Answer:
15 ... Qg5!
This defends the knight on e5, while increasing his activity on the kingside and gaining a dynamic
advantage with the threat of 16 ... Nf3+.
16 Kh1

Exercise: What now?

Answer:
047
 16 ... Be4!
In only two moves Black has created serious threats against the white king, exploiting not only
Whites lagging queenside development but also the absence of defenders on the kingside. 16 Qxc7
would have met with the same reply.
17 f3
17 Rg1 is no better, owing, among other things, to the natural human move 17 ... Qh5, while the
analysis engines indicate a quicker win with 17 ... b6, to push the white queen to a worse square and
ensure that the e5-knight is not attacked; e.g. 18 Qb4 Qh6 19 Kh2 (with the white queen on a5 he could
have played 19 Qxe5 Qxh3+ 20 Qh2) 19 ... Ng4+ 20 Kg3 Nf5+ 21 Kxg4 Qh4 mate.

Exercise: What did Morphy play in this position?

Answer:
17 ... Bxf3!
Once again Morphy chooses the most human continuation, which destroys the defences of the white
kingside and gains a winning attack.
It would again have been good to interpolate 17 ... b6!, forcing the white queen away from the knight
on e5, so as, after 18 Qa4, to be able to play 18 ... Nf5!; e.g. 19 fxe4 Ng3+ 20 Kg1 Qe3+ 21 Rf2 Qe1+
and wins.
18 gxf3 Qg3 19 Nd2
White tries to bring defenders across to the kingside as fast as he can. Since it is impossible to defend
h3, it would have made sense first to eliminate a potential attacker with 19 Bxd6, but after 19 ... Qxh3+
20 Kg1 Qg3+ 21 Kh1 cxd6, it only remains for Black to bring a rook into the attack and in fact this
cannot be prevented; e.g. 22 Qd5 Rae8 23 Qxd6 (or 23 Nd2 Re6; while if 23 Qe4, the e8-rook
concludes matters after 23 ... Nd3! 24 Qxd3 Re5) 23 ... Qh3+ 24 Kg1 Nxf3+ 25 Kf2 and now 25 ... Ne1!
26 Rxe1 Qf5+ is the strongest continuation, with a forced mate according to the engines.

048
 Question: Whites move looks more logical because, after all, the knight on d6 is pinned, isnt it?

Answer: Ill reply to that with an exercise.

Exercise: How did Morphy continue here?

Answer:
19 ... Nf5!
The safety of the monarch is many times more important than material. After 20 Bxf8 Qxh3+ 21 Kg1 Qg3+ 22 Kh1 Ne3, White has no
defence.
20 Rae1 Qxh3+ 21 Kg1 Rfe8
Logical and clear play another piece joins in the attack, with devastating effect.
However, thanks to the shaky defences of the white monarch and the tactical weakness constituted by the undefended white queen,
Black could also have concluded the game without further assistance by playing 21 ... Qg3+ 22 Kh1 Qh4+ 23 Kg1 Qg5+ 24 Kf2 (or 24 Kh1
Ng3+) 24 ... Nd3+ 25 Ke2 Ng3+ and 26 ... Qxa5. There are other lines but no better defences.
22 Rf2
Anticipating the threat of 22 ... Nh4 23 Rf2 Qg3+ 24 Kf1 Nd3.
Against the alternative 22 Re2, there are several ways to breach the defences: for instance, 22 ... Ng3
23 Rh2 Nxf3+! 24 Rxf3 Re1+, while 23 Rxe5 is refuted by 23 ... Ne2+! 24 Rxe2 (or 24 Kf2 Qh2+) 24 ...
Rxe2 25 Bxf7+ Kh8!.

22 ... Qg3+
Morphy chooses to conclude the game in a similar fashion to what we have already seen, with all his
pieces in the attack. Also decisive was 22 ... Ng3 23 Rh2 Nxf3+! 24 Nxf3 Rxe1+ 25 Nxe1 Qf1 mate, as
pointed out by Marczy, but you only need one way to win.
23 Kf1 Nd3 24 Rxe8+ Rxe8 25 Bxf7+
049
 A spite check, probably with only faint hope that Morphy would play 25 ... Kxf7?? allowing 26
Qxf5+.
25 ... Kh8 0-1

In 1855 Morphy returned to New Orleans and enrolled to study Law at the Law School of Louisiana.
Morphy completed the course in a year and a half, and on the 7th of April 1857, at the age of 19, he
qualified as a lawyer.
As he wasnt permitted to practise Law until he was 21, Morphy devoted himself to chess. When he received the invitation to the First
American Congress, which would begin on the 5th of October 1857 in New York, he hesitated to accept, because he was affected by
the recent death of his father, but he eventually agreed to participate.

050
Chapter Three
The First American Chess Congress 1857
The first American Chess Congress took as its model the London tournament of 1851, with preliminary matches where the player who was
first to three wins progressed (draws not counting), with the final being the first to five wins. The countrys best sixteen players took part.

Morphys first opponent was James Thompson. Lets look at the first game of this match.

Game 5
J.Thompson-P.Morphy
First American Congress (rd.1, game 1), New York 1857
Giuoco Piano [C50]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3 Nf6 5 Nc3 h6

It is more usual to play 5 ... d6, since 6 Bg5 h6 is not really to be feared. So 5 ... h6 is unnecessary
and is basically a defensive move, but it has been played many times and, as we shall see, Morphy
manages give it an aggressive character.

6 Ne2?!

Question: Why is this dubious? Its just a normal move, heading for g3, as in the Ruy Lopez, isnt it?

Answer: Yes, the idea is well known and its not bad, but thats not enough; we need to see whether its appropriate to the position or if
theres some snag with it. The way to do this is to ask yourself: what can my opponent do in response?
It was preferable to choose either of the more popular moves, 6 0-0 or 6 Be3.
6 ... d6
Morphy is not seeking to exploit the disadvantage of 6 Ne2 immediately, which is the reduction of
Whites control of the d5-square. Otherwise, he could have played 6 ... d5! straight away or after 6 ... 0-
0 7 Ng3.
7 c3
With the idea of advancing d3-d4, or maybe b2-b4, at an opportune moment.
7 ... 0-0 8 h3

Question: Hmm, is this precaution better than 8 Ng3 or even 8 0-0 - ?

Answer: Those moves are equally good or even superior. However, 8 h3 is not only a preventive move, it can also become an aggressive
one. We should note that White has waited for Black to castle kingside and is now planning to advance with a timely g2-g4, before playing
Ng3, perhaps with the intention of exploiting the hook on h6 with a further g4-g5.
8 ... Kh8

051
 Question: This move looks rather slow, doesnt it?

Answer: You can rarely speed things up just because you want to. The position itself generally dictates what needs to be done.
Besides, this is not really a passive move bearing in mind Whites lagging development, Morphy is planning to open the game at the right
moment with ... f7-f5, and this is the first step.
9 Ng3
To some extent admitting the failure of his previous aggressive ideas.

Exercise: Why did White give up on the idea of advancing the g-pawn?

Answer: Because, in response to 9 g4 (suggested by Marczy), Morphy would have played 9 ... d5!, when White would soon have
cause to regret the weaknesses created by his pawn thrust.
However, the preliminary 9 Bb3 was interesting, and only after 9 ... Nh7?! then 10 g4. It is useful for
the bishop to be on b3, as we will see in the game, and its retreat anticipates an eventual ... d6-d5
attacking the bishop.
9 ... Nh7
Morphy continues with his idea, even at the cost of exchanging his c8-bishop.
10 Qc2
White tries to restrain 10 ... f5 by tactical means. There was nothing wrong with 10 0-0 f5 11 Nxf5,
when it is not clear whether giving up his light-squared bishop is a good idea for Black.
10 ... f5
Morphy invites tactical complications, since he considers that the opening of the game will be in his
favour.
11 exf5

052
 Exercise: Black has several options now what do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer: Morphy elects to occupy the centre with gain of time.

11 ... d5

Exercise: Despite appearances (which induced White to play 10 Qc2), the capture 11 ... Bxf5 doesnt lose. Can you see why not?

Answer: After 12 Nxf5 Rxf5 13 d4, Black has 13 ... Rxf3! since 14 gxf3?! exd4 not only gives Black a pawn for the exchange, Whites
pawn structure is damaged and his king is insecure. White would do better to play 14 dxc5, with a slight advantage after 14 ... Rf8 15 cxd6
cxd6 16 Be3, followed by Rd1 and 0-0.

Exercise: 11 ... Ne7 was also playable. How should Black then respond to 12 Nh4, defending the f5-pawn?

Answer: With the rather surprising 12 ... g5!, exploiting the situation of the white king, which is still in the centre. After 13 fxg6 Bxf2+ 14
Kd1 Bxg3, the position becomes complex; in fact 15 Bxh6! is Whites only move to stay in the game. Then 15 ... d5 16 g7+ Kg8 17 gxf8Q+
Nxf8 leads to an unusual position where chances are balanced.
12 Bb3

Exercise: How did Morphy proceed here?

Answer:
12 ... e4
Morphy continues to advance. However, this move is not clearly better than 12 ... Bxf5, as after 13
Nxf5 Rxf5 14 d4, Black has the now familiar resource 14 ... Rxf3! 15 dxc5 (better than 15 gxf3?! exd4)
15 ... Rf8, with equal chances.
13 dxe4 dxe4

Exercise: We are in a critical position how should White defend?

053
 14 Ng1?
This retreat is equivalent to surrender. White believes his opponent and now his position
collapses. 14 Nxe4? was bad too, since the pin after 14 ... Bxf5 is decisive.
Answer: The only way to resist was with 14 Qxe4!, when 14 ... Re8 15 Be6 Nf8 18 0-0 leaves Black with compensation for the pawn,
but the struggle continues.

Exercise: What is Blacks most effective move now?

Answer:
14 ... Ne5
And the game is over the invasion on d3 is deadly. 14 ... Bxf5 was also good.
15 Be3
The black attack is equally devastating after 15 Kf1 Nd3 16 Nxe4 Bxf5 17 Nxc5 Nxc1 18 Qd1 Bd3+
19 Ne2 Ne4.
15 ... Nd3+ 16 Ke2 Bxe3 17 fxe3 Qh4

This wins a piece at least. White could well resign here.

18 Nxe4 Qxe4 19 Qxd3 Qxg2+ 20 Kd1 Bxf5
Naturally, 20 ... Qxh1 wins as well.
21 Bd5 Bg4+ 0-1
The second game ended in another win for Morphy, this time in a rook and pawn endgame. Lets look at the third game of the match.

Game 6
J.Thompson-P.Morphy
First American Congress (rd.1, game 3), New York 1857
Giuoco Piano [C54]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3

This time Thompson prefers to play c2-c3 immediately, instead of prefacing it with Nc3-e2, as in the
first game.
4 ... Nf6 5 d3 d6

054
 6 h3
A rather passive move; 6 ... Bg4 wasnt a threat to be feared. More usual are 6 Bb3 and 6 b4
(frequently reached via 5 b4 Bb6 6 d3), although every reasonable move in the position has been tried
here.

Question: After 6 Bb3, is the pin 6 ... Bg4 not annoying? Please explain briefly how White should respond.

Answer: It is worth noting that Kasparov faced 6 ... Bg4 numerous times in simultaneous displays; lets take a look at one of these
games. G.Kasparov-Da.Johnson, London (simul) 1998, followed a course similar to several others, involving a standard manoeuvre familiar
from the Ruy Lopez: first of all White puts the question to the bishop, to force it to choose which diagonal to operate on. After 7 h3 Bh5,
White is in no hurry to castle on the kingside but first sets out to bring his queens knight to g3, starting with 8 Nbd2, followed by Nf1, and
then decides whether to play g2-g4 followed by Ng3, or Ng3 immediately, depending on how Black responds.
In the game Black opted for 8 ... Qd7, intending to castle queenside. Kasparov played 9 Qe2, a useful
waiting move, and one that he was considering anyway in response to ... d6-d5 by Black. The game
continued 9 ... 0-0-0 10 Nf1 d5 11 Ng3 Bxf3 12 Qxf3 d4 13 Bc2 Ne8 14 0-0 Nd6 15 Bd2 Rdf8? 16 b4
Bb6 17 c4 and Whites methodical attack on the queenside proved decisive.
6 ... Be6 7 Bb3

Question: Isnt it better to double Blacks pawns with 7 Bxe6 rather than lose a tempo?

Answer: It is a reasonable alternative, but it is not clearly better. The weakness of the doubled pawns cannot be exploited immediately.
After 7 Bxe6 fxe6 8 Qb3 Qc8 9 Ng5 Black has 9 ... d5, showing the positive side of the exchange on e6 Black strengthens his centre and,
in addition, has the use of the half-open f-file, which could soon become an important factor, once he has completed his development.

Exercise: There are several playable moves here. What do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer: Occupying the centre without delay, encouraged by the tempo White has devoted to playing 6 h3.
055
 7 ... d5
It cant be stated that this is definitely the best move, but its certainly the most ambitious.
8 exd5
This is playable, since the weakness created on d3 should not be significant. White could support e4
with our familiar 8 Qe2 or 8 Nbd2, but the most testing move here was 8 Ng5!, aiming to obtain the
bishop pair to offset Blacks central superiority. This would demonstrate a good side to 6 h3, which
avoids the resource ... Bg4.
8 ... Bxd5 9 0-0 0-0 10 Bg5 Bxb3
Morphy wants to neutralize the annoying pin. The immediate 10 ... h6?! allows 11 Bxd5 Qxd5 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Nh4, when the weakness
of the black kingside is obvious.
11 axb3
This is the standard reply, opening the a-file; 11 Qxb3 is playable, but Black has few difficulties after
the simple 11 ... Bb6 (if 11 ... Qxb3 then 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Qxb7) 12 Rd1 h6 13 Bh4 Qd6.
11 ... h6 12 Bh4

Exercise: Again, there are many playable moves here. What do you think Morphy chose?

Answer:
12 ... g5!
Morphy could also have played the quiet 12 ... Bb6, in anticipation of b3-b4. Instead, he opted to
seek activity, at the cost of weakening his kingside, reckoning that it is a risk worth taking.
13 Bg3

Exercise: How do you think Morphy intended to continue?

Answer:
13 ... e4!
Of course; now that the knight is unpinned it would be awkward for White to play 14 dxe4 Nxe4, as
Black then has strong pressure on f2 and g3.
14 Ne5!
Best the game is approaching its crisis.
14 ... Nxe5 15 Bxe5 exd3

056
 Exercise: How should White proceed?

16 Bxf6?
A weak move, regaining the pawn but allowing Black dangerous activity.
Answer: It was better to play 16 Qf3!, fighting for the initiative and reminding Black that 12 ... g5 weakened his kingside. Then chances
would be approximately equal after the natural 16 ... Nd5 17 Nd2 Re8 18 Bg3, planning to round up the pawn later; or if 16 ... Nd7 (heading
for c5 or e5 at an opportune moment) then 17 Bg3 Re8 18 b4 (note that 18 Qxd3?! would be inaccurate, in view of 18 ... Nc5 19 Qc2
Qd3!).
16 ... Qxf6 17 Qxd3 Rad8
The black rooks quickly centralize, while the white knight remains on b1.
18 Qc2 Rfe8
Simple and strong; Black now has all his pieces in play. 18 ... Qg6! might have been been better, since after 19 Qxg6+?! fxg6, the
pressure on f2 is very strong, with threats of 20 ... Rxf2 (or 20 ... Bxf2+) 21 Rxf2 Rd1+, or if 20 Na3 then 20 ... Rd2, so White must look for
alternatives.
19 b4 Bb6 20 Na3

Exercise: All Blacks pieces are active and he now needs to find a way to utilize this advantage how did Morphy do this?

Answer:
20 ... Qf4!
With the obvious threat of 21 ... Rd2.
21 Rad1

Exercise: What was the other idea behind 20 ... Qf4 - ?

Answer: It was to create threats along the h2-b8 diagonal.

057
 21 ... c6! 22 Rd3?
A tactical error that turns the game greatly in Blacks favour. Nevertheless, Whites position was
inferior in any case. He could have tried 22 b3, preparing Nc4, but after 22 ... Bc7 23 g3 Qf3 24 Nc4
(not 24 Rfe1? Bb6) 24 ... b5 (simply 24 ... Re2 25 Rxd8+ Bxd8 26 Qd1 Bf6 is good too) 25 Rxd8 Rxd8
26 Nb2 (26 Ne3 Bxg3 and 26 Nd2 Qe2 are worse) 26 ... Bb6 27 Kh2, White is discoordinated and
almost defenceless. One possible plan for Black would be to set his pawns rolling with ... h6-h5,
intending ... h5-h4 or ... g5-g4, with ... Kg7 coming at some point, clearing the back rank for the rook.

Exercise (easy): Whats wrong with 22 Rd3 - ?

Answer:
22 ... Bxf2+
Winning a pawn, since 23 Rxf2 loses to 23 ... Re1+.
23 Kh1 Rxd3 24 Qxd3 Re3
Now White has to deal with the threat of ... Rxh3+ and mates.
25 Qd8+ Kg7 26 Qd4+
If 26 Qd7, defending h3, Black could play 26 ... Re2 or the more elegant 26 ... Bg3 27 Qd1 Qe4 with
total domination.
26 ... Qxd4 27 cxd4 Re2 28 Nc4

28 ... Re1
A decision characteristic of Morphy: he chooses the simplest way. Other continuations were
possible, such as 28 ... Bxd4 or 28 ... f5 29 Nd6 f4 30 Nxb7 Bxd4, both winning; but Morphy prefers to
simplify the position, after which the bishop will be far superior to the knight, added to which his king
will be very active, enabling Black to win without any complications.
29 Rxe1 Bxe1 30 Na5 Bxb4 31 Nxb7
058
 Exercise: There are several possibilities now how did Morphy proceed?

Answer:
31 ... Kf6
Of course, activating the king, something that White cannot do quickly.
32 Nd8 c5 33 Nc6 Ke6 34 dxc5 Bxc5 35 g4 Kd5 36 Nd8 f6 37 Kg2 a5

The target is the pawn on b2. The difference in strength between the bishop and the knight here is
obvious, but no less important is the difference in activity between the kings.
38 Kf3
This allows Black to immobilize the b-pawn, but 38 b3 would not have saved White either: 38 ...
Bb6 39 Nf7 Kc5 40 Nxh6 Kb4 41 Ng8 Bd8! and the black king captures the pawn on b3, winning easily.
38 ... a4 39 Ke2 Bd4 40 Kd3 Bxb2
The rest is very simple.
41 Nf7 Be5 42 Kc2 Kc4 43 Nd8 a3 44 Nb7 a2 45 Na5+ Kb4 46 Nb3 Ka3 0-1

So Morphy won his first match 3-0.

His next opponent was the judge Alexander Meek, who had been a frequent opponent of Morphys in
earlier days. We saw an extract from one of their games in Chapter One; the result of this match was also
3-0 in Morphys favour.
His opponent in the semi-final was Theodor Lichtenhein. Morphy won the first game with Black in
only 19 moves. Perhaps that explains the rather carefree spirit with which he played the second game.
Lets take a look at it.

Game 7
059
P.Morphy-T.Lichtenhein
First American Congress (semi-final, game 2), New York 1857
Bishops Opening [C42]

1 e4 e5 2 Bc4 Nf6 3 Nf3 Nxe4 4 Nc3

4 ... d5
Instead of trying to hold the extra pawn after 4 ... Nxc3 5 dxc3 f6, entering the Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit, Lichtenhein returns the pawn
to seek a less complicated position.
Morphy himself, in a casual game in London in 1858 against Samuel Boden, one of the inventors of
this gambit, varied with 5 ... c6, likewise returning the pawn, and emerged well from the opening after 6
Nxe5 d5 7 0-0 Bd6! (note that 7 ... dxc4? 8 Qxd8+ Kxd8 9 Nxf7+ Ke8 10 Nxh8 Be7 11 Re1 Kf8 would
be unwise, since the white pieces are quickly activated, for instance with Re2, Be3-d4, Rae1, and it is
not even clear whether Black can collect the knight on h8) 8 Re1 Be6?! 9 Bd3?! Nd7 10 f4 Nxe5 11 fxe5
Nc5+ 12 Kh1 Qh4, although the game ended in a draw. As it happens, White might have gained the
advantage with 9 Qh5!, threatening 10 Nxf7! among other things, so the most sensible continuation for
Black was simply 8 ... 0-0 9 Bd3 Nd7 with equality.
We shall take a brief look at the retreat 4 ... Nf6 in Supplementary Game 7.1.
5 Bxd5
The theory of the time, namely the Handbuch, recommended 5 Nxd5, but this seems no stronger than
Morphys move.
5 ... Nf6 6 Bb3 Bd6 7 d3 0-0
Morphys opponent also liked to play this line with White. Two games of the match T.Lichtenhein-
H.Montgomery, Philadelphia 1861, continued 7 ... Nc6 8 Bg5 h6 9 Bh4 g5 10 Bg3 Bg4 11 h3 Bh5 12
Ba4 Qd7 13 Qe2 0-0 14 0-0-0 and here they diverged, with White winning one game and Black the
other.
8 h3
This is to prevent the pin with 8 ... Bg4 (as might follow 8 0-0) which, with the queens knight
already on c3 (therefore unable to support its colleague from d2) and the kings bishop outside the pawn
chain (and unable to disarm the pin with Be2) could be awkward. But that wasnt White only idea, as
we shall see.
8 ... h6
It is not clear that copying White and preventing Bg5 is better than playing 8 ... Nc6, since after 9 Bg5
h6 10 Bh4, Black can easily develop his pieces (for example, with 10 ... Bf5, perhaps followed by ...
Re8 and/or ... Nd4), and even a timely ... g7-g5 doesnt look dangerous for him.

060
 Exercise: What idea did 8 h3 contain, in addition to ruling out ... Bg4 - ?

Answer:
9 Be3
This was the secondary idea. Of course 8 h3 prevents ... Ng4 as well, so the bishop can safely
develop to e3, perhaps preparing to castle queenside which 8 ... h6 actually encourages, as we shall see.
9 ... Nc6 10 Qd2 Na5!
A good decision the white bishop could be very unpleasant when the approaching storm breaks.

Lets put ourselves in Morphys shoes here. We know that, when he was facing considerably weaker
opponents, he often took risks, relying on his superior calculating ability in complex positions he had
also won the first game of this match with Black in only 19 moves.
Giving knight odds was an expression of the same approach; Morphy played many games at those
odds. In fact, exactly two years later, he played six such games against Lichtenhein and defeated him
3-2.

Exercise: Following the same logic, what do you think was Morphys choice here?

Answer:
11 g4
Encouraged by 8 ... h6, Morphy prepares to break with g4-g5. It is not clear whether this is
objectively best, but it fits the risk-taking approach that Morphy opted for in this game, and to which he
remains faithful even in the endgame.
11 ... Nxb3 12 axb3 Bd7

061
 Exercise: What preparatory move did Morphy choose now?

Answer:
13 Rg1
Building up for the advance g4-g5, which Black prevents with his next move.
13 ... Nh7 14 Ne4
Exploiting the fact that the knight has retreated from f6, Morphy insists on preparing g4-g5 and
deploys another piece to the kingside, rejecting the very reasonable alternative 14 0-0-0.
14 ... Kh8

15 g5
The moment has come to advance. Morphy prefers not to wait, again rejecting the less committal, but
equally (or more) dangerous move, 15 0-0-0.
15 ... h5
Naturally, Black cannot allow the g-file to be opened.
16 Nh4
The pawn on h3 can be safely sacrificed, given that the open h-file would provide more than
sufficient compensation.
16 ... g6
Black seals up the kingside at a cost, since this move also weakens the long dark diagonal. It is not
immediately apparent how this might be dangerous, but it should be kept in mind.
17 Qe2
This is a rather mysterious move. It doesnt appear to be better than 17 0-0-0, when 17 ... Bxh3 is
strongly met by 18 d4; while after 17 ... Bc6, White can play 18 f4! with the better prospects.
17 ... Bc6
This isnt a bad move, even though Morphy eventually exploits the bishops absence from the c8-h3
diagonal.
Instead, 17 ... Bxh3 was inadvisable in view of 18 0-0-0, followed by 19 d4; but it would have been
interesting to try to open a second front with 17 ... a5 and ... a5-a4, emphasizing the fact that the white
king is still in the centre, while anticipating his future queenside castling.
18 f4?!
Steinitz called this hazardous and unsound, and he was very probably right. Nevertheless, the
practical element should not be ignored; Black is under constant pressure and keeps having to take
important decisions. At the risk of repeating myself, once again 18 0-0-0! was good.

062
 Exercise: How can we try to demonstrate that Steinitz was right?

18 ... exf4
This move unleashes tremendous complications the outcome is uncertain, but the black king comes
under definite pressure.
Answer: Max Lange suggested opening the game and exposing the white king with 18 ... Bxe4! 19 dxe4 Bb4+ 20 c3 exf4! (in this way
Bd4+ is prevented) 21 Bxf4 Bc5 and now after 22 Be5+ Kg8, compared with the game, there are many open lines that endanger Whites
king as much as Blacks, so the success of Whites attack is not guaranteed.
19 Bd4+ Kg8

Exercise: How did Morphy continue the attack?

Answer:
20 Nf5
Perhaps making Black regret having played 17 ... Bc6, although objectively that move wasnt an
error, as weve already noted. Now 20 ... gxf5 loses to 21 Nf6+, followed by 22 Qxh5. Since White is
also threatening 21 Nh6 mate, Blacks reply is forced.
20 ... Re8 21 Nh6+ Kf8

Exercise: What was Morphys next step?

Answer:
22 0-0-0
Finally! At this point there was nothing better: Black was threatening 22 ... Bxe4 23 dxe4 Bb4+ and
Whites position collapses after, for example, 24 Bc3 Bxc3+ 25 bxc3 Nxg5.

063
 Exercise (difficult): How should Black defend?

Answer:
22 ... Bxe4?
Black rejected the complicated 22 ... Nxg5!, against which Marczy suggested 23 Nxf7, intending 23 ... Nxf7? 24 Rxg6. After, for
instance, 24 ... Be5 25 Bxe5 Rxe5 26 Qf2! (not yet 26 Rdg1 on account of 26 ... Qd4!) 26 ... Qd7 27 Rdg1, White definitely has a strong
attack.
But the merciless analysis engines immediately find 23 ... Kxf7!, and after 24 Nxg5+ (not 24 Rxg5?
due to 24 ... Rxe4) 24 ... Qxg5 25 Qxe8+ Rxe8 26 Rxg5 f3 (threatening ... Bf4+) 27 Kb1 Re2, Black has
the advantage, since the passed f-pawn is worth more than the lost exchange.
23 dxe4 Qe7

Exercise (difficult): What is Whites best continuation now?

Answer:
24 e5
This is the beginning of an attractive and complicated line, but is not the best. The inhuman move
24 Qc4! was stronger, threatening to win with 25 e5 because of the attack on f7. After 24 ... Qe6 25
Qc3!, threatening Bg7+ followed by e4-e5, White has a strong initiative.
24 ... Bxe5 25 Bxe5 Qxe5!
Better than 25 ... Nxg5 26 Rge1!, when the complications favour White; e.g. 26 ... Qxe5 27 Qxe5
Rxe5 28 Rxe5 f6 29 Rxg5 fxg5 30 Rd7, with a clear advantage.
26 Rd7!

Exercise: This fine move is the key to Whites idea but despite appearances, its not decisive. How must Black respond?
064
 Answer:
26 ... Qg7?
Justifying Morphys play. 26 ... Kg7? 27 Rxf7+ Kh8 also loses; i.e. 28 Rf8+! Nxf8 29 Nf7+ etc.
The correct defence is 26 ... Nxg5! 27 Rxg5 Qf6!, when the position is still very complicated but
seems to be objectively equal. Black has three pawns for the piece and the white knight is trapped,
while the white king is not completely secure either. Lets look at a few possibilities:
After 28 Qd2 (the spectacular 28 Qxh5? fails to 28 ... Rad8! 29 Rxd8 Qxd8 and wins) 28 ... Rad8 29
Qb4+ c5! 30 Rxc5 Rxd7 31 Rf5+ Kg7 32 Rxf6 Kxf6 33 Qxf4+ Kg7, surprisingly, the analysis engines
confirm that Black is fine despite the material disadvantage, since the knight is still trapped and White
may have to resort to Nf5+ and try to give perpetual check before Black coordinates his rooks; but
obviously this is a variation more suited to a computer.
The simpler and more human line is 28 ... Re7 29 Rd8+ Re8 30 Qb4+ Kg7 31 Nf5+ Kh7 32 Rxa8 Rxa8, which also offers equal
chances. One possible continuation is 33 Qxf4 Re8 34 Qh4 Qe6 35 Rxh5+ gxh5 36 Qxh5+ Kg8 37 Qg5+ Qg6 38 Ne7+ Rxe7 39 Qxe7,
reaching a level endgame.
27 Qc4
Threatening 28 Qc5+ as well a capture on f7. There is no defence.
27 ... Re7 28 Rxe7 Kxe7 29 Re1+ 1-0

Lichtenhein at least managed to salvage a draw (a pawn down in a rook ending) in the third game, but
Morphy won the fourth to take the match 3-.

Supplementary Game 7.1

P.Morphy-W.Potier
Blindfold simultaneous, Paris 1858

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Bc4 Nxe4 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Nxe5 d5 6 Bb3 Be7

6 ... Bd6 7 d4 c6 was possible, but the text move is fine. Black can be satisfied that he has shut the
bishop out of play on b3.
7 d4 c6 8 0-0 Nbd7 9 f4 Nb6
If Black wants to develop his queens bishop along the c8-h3 diagonal he needs to move the knight at
some point, but it is better to postpone that decision. 9 ... 0-0 looks better.
10 Qf3 h5?
Seemingly, Black was reluctant to play 10 ... 0-0 on account of 11 g4. That looks scary but is not
particularly dangerous, as the knight can go to e8 after, for example, 11 ... Nc4 12 g5.

Exercise: How did Morphy respond?

Answer:
11 f5
Shutting the c8-bishops diagonal, while opening that of his own c1-bishop.
065
 11 ... Qc7?!
Black doesnt want to castle short now, since it would be in worse circumstances than before, but this
move helps White develop.
12 Bf4 Bd6 13 Rae1 Kf8?!
It was better to play 13 ... 0-0 anyway and hope for the best.

Exercise: How did Morphy proceed?

Answer:
14 Qg3!
With the threat of 15 Ng6+.
14 ... h4

Exercise: What was Whites strongest continuation after 14 ... Kg8 - ?

Answer: There are several good moves, but the line that best exploits the awkward situation of the opposing pieces is 15 Ng4! hxg4 16
Bxd6 Qd7 17 Be7 and Blacks position is on its last legs.
15 Ng6+ Kg8 16 Bxd6 hxg3 17 Bxc7 fxg6 18 fxg6 gxh2+
Black maintains material equality but the difference in activity between the two sides is huge.
19 Kh1 Bg4 20 Re7 Nbd7 21 Be5 Kf8?
This is a fatal waste of time; instead, in view of the threat of 22 Nxd5! and wins, 21 ... Rh5! was
essential, to give the king the h8-square.
22 Rf7+ Kg8

Exercise: How did Morphy conclude the struggle in his favour?

066
 Answer:
23 Nxd5!
The bishop exiled to b3 takes its revenge. This is not the only move to win; he could also take on f6
first.
23 ... cxd5 24 Bxd5 Nb6
24 ... Nxd5 allows mate in one, while 24 ... Nxe5 25 R7xf6+ only delays the end.
25 Bb3 1-0
There is no good defence against 26 R7xf6+.

Morphys opponent in the final was the German master Louis Paulsen, who was living in the USA and
who was a very famous player of the time. Today a popular line of the Sicilian Defence bears his name.
Lets look at the first game.

Game 8
P.Morphy-L.Paulsen
First American Congress (final, game 1), New York 1857
Sicilian Defence [B40]

1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 Nf3 e6 4 Nxd4 Bc5

Paulsen is planning to develop his kings knight on e7. This line has been practically abandoned,
displaced by 4 ... a6, 4 ... Nc6 and 4 ... Nf6.
5 Nb3
In the fifth game of the match Morphy switched to the stronger move 5 Be3 (see Game 9).
5 ... Bb6 6 Nc3 Ne7 7 Bf4

7 ... 0-0?!

Exercise (easy): Demonstrate that Blacks last move is at least dubious.

Answer:
8 Bd6!
Of course the bishop is a very unpleasant intruder, hindering the natural development of the black
pieces.
Despite the strange appearance of Blacks set-up, he could have obtained a reasonable position after
7 ... d5 8 exd5 exd5, when the structure resembles that of a Tarrasch French arising from 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5
3 Nd2 c5 4 Ngf3 Nc6 5 exd5 exd5 6 Bb5 Bd6 7 dxc5 Bxc5 8 0-0 Ne7, a line in which the recently
departed but never to be forgotten Viktor Korchnoi was almost invincible as Black.
8 ... f5 9 e5 a6
This is a bad sign, another loss of tempo. Black wants to prevent White from playing Nb5 at some
point, perhaps with the idea of replacing the bishop on d6.
Here one of the suggestions of the analysis engines is 9 ... Ng6.
067
 Exercise: How would you respond in that case?

Answer: There are several interesting moves, such as 10 g3 or 10 Qd2, preparing the defence of the e5-pawn with 11 f4. On the other
hand, it would not be the most practical (and possibly not objectively best either) to accept the exchange sacrifice straight away with 10 Bxf8
Qxf8, since there is no way to defend the e5-pawn and Black would have good compensation with a pawn for the exchange, the possibility
of building a strong centre, and the strength of his dark-squared bishop.
10 Be2
Morphy is looking to castle quickly on the kingside and then see how to exploit the advantage
provided by his strong bishop. This is the most sensible and simple plan, but its not the most energetic.
There are more ambitious options, such as 10 Qd2 with the plan of castling queenside, or 10 f4, bolstering the e5-pawn and preventing
the game continuation.
10 ... Nbc6 11 0-0 Rf7
Unpinning the rook, so as to be able play ... Ng6.
12 Kh1
Another idea was 12 Bh5 and if 12 ... Ng6 then 13 Qe2, supporting the vital e5-pawn, and the pin is
very uncomfortable for Black, while 12 ... g6 13 Bf3, followed by Qd2, would fail to offer Black much
relief either.
Now 12 ... Ng6 can be answered by 13 f4 and Black cant free his position, so Paulsen seeks another
way to gain some activity.
12 ... f4

Question: This move creates weaknesses, while the bishop on c8 is still dormant. It looks like an emergency solution, almost smacking of
desperation. Is that so?

Answer: There is a saying that we can all be brave when there is no alternative. This move concedes the e4-square and weakens the
b1-h7 diagonal. On the other hand, if White is allowed to play f2-f4, there will be no way for Black to complicate the play. So for good or ill,
068
f2-f4 must be prevented. Now ... Nf5 becomes possible, in addition to ... Ng6.
13 Ne4 Nf5
13 ... Ng6 is answered by 14 Bh5, when the exchange sacrifice would be under rather worse
conditions than before, as after 14 ... Ncxe5 15 Bxe5 Nxe5 16 Bxf7+ Nxf7, White can restrain the black
centre with 17 c4!.
14 Bh5
This seeks to weaken the black kingside, and succeeds, but without achieving much. Instead, 14 Nbd2
was interesting, and if 14 ... Nxd6 15 Nxd6 Nxe5 (after 15 ... Rf8 16 Nf3, the black forces remain
bottled up) 16 Nf3! Nxf3 17 Nxf7 Kxf7 18 Bxf3 d5, then once again 19 c4!, and Whites greater activity
is obvious.
14 ... g6 15 Bg4

15 ... Ng7?
Unnecessarily passive. Lwenthals recommendation 15 ... Nxd6 16 exd6 (after 16 Nxd6 Rf8, nothing special is apparent) 16 ... Ba7
was preferable, followed by 17 ... b5, or 17 ... b6 if necessary, releasing the c8-bishop to b7, followed by ... Rc8. The snag is that the other
bishop might become temporarily passive, but Blacks problems would be much diminished compared to the game, because there would be
no target or serious weakness in his position.
16 Qf3

Question: What is the idea behind Morphys move? Is it the best?

Answer: It is difficult to say what the best move was here. There were other ideas, such as simply 16 Qe2. Morphy, as was his custom,
was seeking to bring his pieces into play quickly and he chose a flexible move that not only (as with 16 Qe2) releases the inactive a1-rook,
but also envisages defending his centre with Qc3, if required.
16 ... h5?!
Given Blacks lagging development, this move is simply too optimistic. Here such an attack with
pawns does not inspire confidence. It looks more appropriate to play 16 ... Bc7 17 Qc3 Ne8.
17 Bh3 Qh4
White could have answered 17 ... g5 with 18 g4!, and if Black wants to prevent the opening of the g-file, he would have had to seal up
the kingside with 18 ... h4, which leaves him paralysed and allows White a free hand in the centre and on the queenside after, say, 19 Bg2.

069
 Exercise: Blacks set-up has a defect, which White can exploit with a precise series of moves. How should he begin?

Answer:
18 Nf6+
The first step the knight settles on an ideal post, since 18 ... Rxf6 19 exf6 Qxf6 20 Qxf4 isnt
playable for Black.
18 ... Kh8

Exercise: What is Morphys next step?

Answer:
19 Qe4!
Making Black rue his decision to play 16 ... h5?!, which weakened the g6-pawn.
19 ... Qg5
If 19 ... Nf5 then 20 Bxf5 gxf5 21 Qf3.
20 g3
This is another important move, seeking to open up the game.
20 ... f3
This move, which tries to keep the game closed, will be quickly punished. Naturally, opening the game is not attractive for Black, because
Whites lead in development is overwhelming. Nevertheless, the engines suggest 20 ... fxg3 21 fxg3 Nf5 as a more tenacious defence, even
if White is still clearly better after 22 Bxf5 gxf5 (not 22 ... exf5? 23 Qd5) 23 Qe2.

Exercise: What had Morphy thought up here?

Answer:
070
 21 Nd2!
The most elegant method of bringing another piece into the kingside campaign. There is no good way to defend the f3-pawn, as 21 ...
Qxd2 22 Qxg6 loses straight away.
21 ... Bd8 22 Nxf3 Qh6 23 Rg1

Question: What a strange move!

Answer: Whites position is very advantageous; while 23 Rg1 is not necessarily the best move, it has a definite idea behind it and does
not worsen Whites position at all, despite its unusual appearance. Note that if Black elects to regain the pawn with ... Bxf6 etc, it will be at
the cost of remaining with very weak dark squares. Meanwhile White needs to bring more forces into play. Morphy is setting up the
possibility of a timely g3-g4, opening the g-file; e.g. 23 ... b6 24 g4! hxg4 25 Ng5! Qxg5 26 Rxg4 and wins.
23 ... Bxf6 24 exf6

24 ... Ne8
This loses; but capturing immediately with 24 ... Rxf6 would offer no hope of salvation after 25 Bf4
Qh7 (or 25 ... d5 26 Qe2 Qh7 27 Ne5) 26 Rad1 (or just 26 c4) 26 ... d5 27 Qd3, intending 28 c4.
25 Bf4 Nxf6
Neither 25 ... Qh7 26 Ng5 nor 25 ... Qf8 26 Qxg6 was any better.
26 Qxc6
Winning a piece and the game.
26 ... Qxf4
If 26 ... bxc6 27 Bxh6 Ne4 (or 27 ... Ng8 28 Bf4), then 28 Ne5 Nxf2+ 29 Kg2 Rf6 30 Rgf1 wins.
27 Qxc8+ Rxc8 28 gxf4 Rxc2

29 Rac1
Activity always! Instead of, say, 29 Ne5, followed by Nd3 defending everything (which of course
wins), Morphy seeks to activate his pieces and bring the game to a rapid conclusion.
29 ... Rxf2 30 Rc8+ Ng8 31 Ne5
071
 Resignation by Black would be far from premature.
31 ... Rg7 32 Nxg6+ Kh7 33 Nf8+ Kh6 34 Nxd7 Rxd7 35 Rcxg8 Rxf4 36 Bxe6 Re7
Its now mate in four moves.
37 R8g6+ Kh7 38 Bg8+ Kh8 39 Rh6+ Rh7 40 Rxh7 mate

In those days there were no chess clocks. Morphy played quickly; his rivals did not. Hence the games
could last for more than ten hours. The second game in fact lasted fifteen hours, twelve of which were
used up by Paulsen. It ended in a draw, which can be considered a surprise. Lets look at part of this
game.

L.Paulsen- P.Morphy
First American Congress (final, game 2), New York 1857

Black to play

It is easy to see that the opening has not gone well for White: four black pieces are in very menacing
positions, pointed in the direction of the white king. It would be no surprise if the game were to be over
in a few moves.
21 ... Rxg2+!
The prettiest way to win; the less spectacular 21 ... f5 22 Ng3 Qh4 is very strong too.
22 Kxg2 f5 23 f3

23 ... Qg6+?
A typical case of mixing up the move order. Lwenthal commented: As soon as the second player
had touched the queen, he remarked that, had he taken the knight, the contest could not have been
prolonged a dozen moves. Blacks error consisted in reversing what should have been his 23rd and 24th
072
moves.
After the obvious 23 ... fxe4 24 Rxe4 (24 fxe4 Qg6+ 25 Kh1 Rf2 leads to a quicker mate) 24 ... Qg6+
25 Kh1 Rxf3 or 25 ... Qg3, Black mates in a few moves.
24 Ng5
Now White will emerge the exchange up, although Morphys tenacious defence enabled him to draw
after 53 moves.

The rules stated that, in the event of a draw, the game should be replayed with the same colours.
Morphy lost the third game. His bad patch continued into the fourth game, in which he wasted a winning
advantage. Lets now look at the fifth.

Game 9
P.Morphy-L.Paulsen
First American Congress (final, game 5), New York 1857
Sicilian Defence [B40]

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Bc5 5 Be3

This time, instead of 5 Nb3 (as he played in the first and fourth games), Morphy opts for a developing
move.
5 ... Qb6

6 Nb5
In the seventh game Morphy switched to 6 Nc3, which is the most popular move here. In recent years
this position has been reached many times, albeit mostly via the order 4 ... Qb6 5 Nc3 Bc5 6 Be3, when
the usual reply is 6 ... Nc6.
Curiously, in a game with the white pieces the same year, Paulsen chose 6 b3 here, while towards the
end of the 20th century, 6 Na3 and 6 c3 were often tried as well.
After 6 Nc3, accepting the pawn with 6 ... Qxb2?? (as Paulsen played) loses to 7 Ndb5! and White
wins at least a piece: if 7 ... Qb4 then 8 Rb1, or 7 ... Bb4 8 Bd2 and wins. Paulsen gave up his queen for
a rook and a piece with 7 ... Bxe3 8 Rb1 Qxb1, but after 9 Nxb1 (inserting 9 Nd6+! is even stronger) 9
... Bf4 10 g3 a6 11 gxf4 axb5 12 Nc3, Morphy went on to win quite easily.

Question: 6 Nc3 is a typical Morphy move, developing; whereas the text move, sacrificing a pawn or allowing doubled pawns, looks
untypical of him, doesnt it?

Answer: Its an interesting decision. Morphy wants to exchange the defender of the dark squares, in particular the d6-square. The
doubling of the e-pawns, while ugly, is not serious. After 6 ... Bxe3 7 fxe3, White gains control of d6 and the use of the half-open f-file,
and also has the possibility of playing Qd4 at some point, with the probable restitution of his pawn centre. If Black accepts the sacrifice with
7 ... Qxe3+, White has clear compensation after 8 Be2 and threatens 9 Nc7+; while if 8 ... Na6, he can also continue development with 9
N1c3, keeping Nd6+ in reserve.
6 ... Nf6
Despite the comments in the previous note, Blacks best course may still be to play 6 ... Bxe3 7 fxe3
and then 7 ... Nc6. If White continues 8 Qd2, planning N1c3 and 0-0-0, Black can reply with 8 ... Nf6.
073
 7 Bxc5 Qxc5

8 Nd6+?
A very surprising decision, since losing the right to castle is no great handicap to Black in this position he can easily develop his pieces,
especially after the following exchange on c8. One would normally have expected Morphy to play the obvious developing move 8 N1c3!.
8 ... Ke7 9 Nxc8+ Rxc8 10 Bd3
Blacks lead in development means that 10 Nc3 is inadvisable on account of 10 ... Qb4!, with a
double attack. In contrast to Paulsens 6 ... Qxb2?? in the seventh game (quoted above), the capture 11 ...
Qxb2 would now leave the knight on c3 unprotected.
10 ... Nc6

Question: After what youve said, why didnt Paulsen try 10 ... Qb4+ 11 Nd2 Qxb2 - ?

Answer: This was playable, but it is not clear that it would be advantageous to Black, and it would certainly be more dangerous. The
circumstances are rather different here: on d2 the knight is better placed than on c3, and after 12 Rb1 Qc3, White can play either 13 Rxb7 or
13 0-0, followed by f2-f4; or if 12 ... Qxa2, White has the further option of 13 e5, followed by Qg4, with great complications.
11 0-0 h5!?
An ambitious move, Black is not content just to have a sound position (e.g. with 11 ... Ne5) and starts
a bayonet attack, encouraged by the paucity of white defenders on the kingside, even though Black
himself does not have numerical superiority on that wing. Logically, since pawns cant move
backwards, if Blacks offensive fails he will need to be careful that his pawn advances dont create, or
become, weaknesses.

12 Nd2 h4 13 h3 g5
Now that White has created a hook on h3, Black follows up consistently.
14 a3
Preparing to evict the black queen from the g1-a7 diagonal, so as to play f2-f3.
074
 Question: Wasnt it simpler just to play 14 Kh1 first?

Answer: The problem is that the king possibly stands worse on h1. Black might continue with 14 ... Rg8 and if 15 f3 then 15 ... Nh5! is
unpleasant.

Black now has several attractive options.

14 ... Rg8
This is a logical move, intending to support the advance 15 ... g4, but as White is able to prevent this,
it was perhaps better to prepare it with 14 ... Ne5 which, as we shall see, would prevent the queen from
being forced off the g1-a7 diagonal.
It was even worth considering the immediate 14 ... g4, sacrificing the pawn, although if we go down the line suggested by the analysis
engines, 15 hxg4 Rg8 16 b4 Qg5 17 f3 h3, Black is not better after 18 g3!.
15 b4 Qb6 16 Nc4
This could have been prevented by 14 ... Ne5.
16 ... Qc7 17 f3
Radically preventing ... g5-g4, at the cost of closing the kingside. 17 Ne3 was no better, on account of 17 ... Ne5! 18 f3 and now, for
instance, 18 ... Nh5, followed by ... Nf4.
Entering complications with 17 Re1 g4 18 e5 Nxe5 19 Nxe5 gxh3 would not be the most practical
course of action the outcome is not exactly clear, but Black has obvious compensation for the piece.

17 ... Ne5
Black exchanges knights in order to remain with the superior minor piece, because its not easy for
White to alter the pawn structure to improve the mobility of his bishop. This decision seems a correct
one, although its surprising that Paulsen never gets round to playing ... Nh5, heading for the very
attractive square f4, for which this was a favourable moment.
Alternatively, 17 ... d5 has been suggested, but the opening of the game doesnt appear to favour
Black after, for example, 18 Ne3 dxe4 19 Bxe4 Nxe4 20 fxe4 Ne5, when there are several moves: 21
075
Qh5, 21 Qe2, or even 21 c4, since 21 ... Nxc4?? 22 Nxc4 Qxc4 loses to 23 Rc1.
18 Nxe5 Qxe5 19 Qd2 Rg7?!
A strange move, the point of which is unclear. Perhaps he wanted to have f7 defended in case of a
future f3-f4 by White.
Paulsen is not satisfied with the equal endgame arising after 19 ... Qd4+ 20 Qf2, but cant find the
way to increase his minimal advantage. Once again 19 ... Nh5!, blockading the kingside, looks a better
idea.
20 Rad1 Rd8
Preparing the possibility of playing 21 ... d5.
21 Qf2 b6

With his previous move Morphy forced Black to create a weakness on the queenside. Now the light
squares are slightly weaker, even if the position remains balanced.

Exercise: How do you think Morphy continued?

Answer:
22 f4!
Making Paulsen regret that he never got round to playing ... Nh5.
22 ... gxf4 23 Qxf4 Qg5 24 Rf2 Qxf4 25 Rxf4 Rdg8
If Black has decided against the advance 25 ... d5, which leads to a drawn ending (e.g. 26 exd5 Nxd5
27 Rxh4 Ne3 28 Rd2 Nxc2 29 Rxc2 Rxd3 or 27 ... Rxg2+ 28 Kxg2 Ne3+ etc), it was better to play 25 ...
Rh8 immediately.
26 Rd2 Rh8

Exercise: Granted that there is no great imbalance in this position, what do you think Morphy played now?
076
 Answer:
27 e5!
Hindering Black from playing 27 ... d6, followed by ... Nd7-e5, which would improve the
coordination of his pieces considerably. Admittedly, the black knight now becomes active, but so does
the white bishop.
27 ... Nd5 28 Rd4
There is no good way to prevent Blacks next move; for instance, after 28 Re4 (so that ... f7-f6 and ...
f6xe5 does not attack the rook) 28 ... f6 29 Bc4, instead of 29 ... Nc7 30 Red4, Black can improve with
the counter-attack 29 ... Rg3!, intending 30 Bxd5 f5! 31 Red4 exd5 32 Rxd5 Rxa3 33 Rxd7+ Ke6, which
should be drawn.
28 ... f6 29 exf6+ Nxf6 30 Rc4 Kd8 31 a4

31 ... Nd5?!
This isnt a serious error, but why allow the white bishop greater scope? He could have played 31 ... Rg5, preventing a4-a5 and
preparing ... e6-e5, or else prioritized the advance of his central majority with 31 ... e5 32 Be4 Ke7 33 Rc7 Ke6.
32 Be4 Nc7
Now everything is ready for Black to play ... d7-d5. It is no surprise that opening the game with, for example, 32 ... Nf4 33 Bb7 Rf8 34
Rc8+ Ke7 35 Rxd7+! Kxd7 36 Rxf8 Nxh3+ 37 Kh2 Ng5 38 Rf4 favours Whites bishop, leaving him with the more pleasant position.
33 Bf3 d5 34 Rc6
Morphy concentrates all his forces on the e6-pawn to tie the black pieces down and gain greater
freedom of action for himself.
34 ... Rd7

Question: Why not 34 ... Kd7, which defends the pawn with gain of time?

Answer: Because, after 35 b5, the threat of 36 c4 is very unpleasant.

35 Bg4 Rh6 36 Re2 Ke7

077
 White has activated his pieces as much as possible, while Blacks optimistic ideas have not been
fulfilled. Nevertheless, White has still not achieved anything significant.

Exercise: How did Morphy continue pressing for an advantage?

Answer:
37 Kh2!
Preparing g2-g3 to create a passed pawn on the h-file.
37 ... Kf7 38 g3 hxg3+ 39 Kxg3 Re7 40 h4
Mission accomplished, although Blacks defensive resources should certainly be sufficient.
40 ... Ne8 41 h5
Passed pawns must be pushed, its true, but the pawn is weaker on this square, Instead White could
continue to manoeuvre with 41 Re5.
41 ... Nf6 42 Rcxe6 Rxe6?
Another inaccuracy. With the zwischenzug 42 ... Rc7!, threatening 43 ... Nxg4, Black could regain the
pawn and equalize more easily; e.g. after 43 R6e5 Rc3+!.
43 Bxe6+

Exercise: What is the best flight square for the king?

43 ... Kg7?
Paulsen finally cracks under the pressure.
Answer: With 43 ... Kf8! he could have reached a rook ending a pawn down but with considerable drawing chances after, for instance,
44 Re5 Nxh5+ 45 Kf3 Nf6 46 Bxd5 Nxd5 47 Rxd5 Rc6, as pointed out by Karsten Mller.
44 Bg4 Nxh5+ 45 Bxh5 Rxh5 46 Re7+
078
 This is what Black could have avoided with 43 ... Kf8!.
46 ... Kf6 47 Rxa7

Another rook ending with three pawns against two, but this one is winning for White, who quickly
gains two passed pawns.
47 ... Ke5
This loses another pawn. No better was 47 ... Re5 48 Ra6! Re3+ (or 48 ... Re6 49 a5) 49 Kf2 Rc3 50
Rxb6+ Ke5 51 a5 and the connected white pawns triumph; e.g. 51 ... Rxc2+ 52 Ke1 d4 53 a6 Ra2 54 b5
d3 55 Rb7 Kd4 56 a7 Ra1+ 57 Kd2 Ra2+ 58 Kc1 d2+ 59 Kd1 Kd3 60 Rd7+! Kc3 61 b6 etc.
48 Ra6 Rg5+ 49 Kf3 Rf5+ 50 Ke2 b5 51 axb5 Rf4
Or 51 ... Rf8 52 Rc6!, followed by 53 b6.
52 c3 d4 53 c4 Rh4 54 c5 Rh2+
If 54 ... d3+ 54 Kxd3 Rxb4, the simplest is to give up a pawn in order to cut off the black king on the
fifth rank with 55 Rd6 Rxb5 56 Kc4 Rb1 57 Rh6, followed by c5-c6, with an easy win.
55 Kd3 Rh3+ 56 Kc2
White has few technical problems here, as long as he avoid traps such as 56 Kc4?? Rc3 mate.
Although the three white pawns should win easily, one has to remain constantly alert.
56 ... Rh2+ 57 Kb3 Rh3+ 58 Ka4 Kd5 59 Rd6+ Kc4 60 c6 Rh1
Threatening mate.
61 Rxd4+
61 Ka5 also wins, albeit more prosaically.
61 ... Kxd4

Exercise: The final hurdle how does White win?

Answer:
079
 62 c7!
The only way. Not 62 b6? Kc4 63 Ka3 Kc3 64 Ka2 Rh2+ 65 Ka3 Rh1 66 Ka4 Kc4 and draws; nor
62 Ka5? Kd5 63 c7 Rh8 64 Ka6 (definitely not 64 b6?? Kc6 and Black wins) 64 ... Kd6 65 b6 Kc6 66
b5+ Kd7 67 Kb7 Rg8, again drawing, as pointed out by Karsten Mller.
62 ... Rh8 63 b6 Kc4 64 b7 1-0

And so we arrive at the sixth game, which is one of the most famous and most beautiful of his career.

Game 10
L.Paulsen-P.Morphy
First American Congress (final, game 6), New York 1857
Four Knights Game [C48]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Bc5

This is the so-called Marshall Variation, although as we can see it was played well before Frank
Marshall employed it.
Both 4 ... Bb4 and 4 ... Nd4 gained popularity several decades later.
5 0-0

Exercise: The opening theory of the time would have been running out around here. How do you think Morphy responded to the threat
of 6 Nxe5 - ?

Answer:
5 ... 0-0
Sacrificing the pawn for rapid development was surely the first idea that sprang to mind. The black
pieces quickly become active and it is quite possible that the sacrifice is only temporary anyway.
The alternatives 5 ... Qe7 and 5 ... d6 6 d4 exd4 7 Nxd4 Bd7 may be playable, but Black will not gain
such activity as in the game.
6 Nxe5 Re8
For the pioneers it is always difficult, commented Kasparov, who considered it dubious not to
regain the pawn straight away. The main line nowadays is 6 ... Nxe5 7 d4 Bd6 8 f4 and now either 8 ...
Neg4 or 8 ... Nc6 9 e5 Be7 (or 9 ... Bb4).

080
 Exercise: What should White do about the attacked knight?

7 Nxc6?!
Simplifying, and at the same time doubling the opponents pawns, doesnt look bad, but White will
lose further tempi and Black will achieve what he wants, which is to activate his pieces.
Answer: Its been known for a long time that 7 Nf3! offers some advantage, since after 7 ... Nxe4 8 Nxe4 Rxe4 9 d3 Re8 10 d4, White
is better developed.
The alternative 8 d4 is perhaps more questionable. After 8 ... Nxc3 9 bxc3 Bf8 (better than 9 ... Be7?!
10 d5 Nb8 11 Bf4, G.Marczy-H.Pillsbury, Nuremberg 1896) 10 d5, then instead of 10 ... Ne5, which
helps Whites mobilization by 11 Nxe5 Rxe5 12 Bf4 Re8 13 Qf3 c6 14 Bd3, the more modest 10 ... Ne7
is better, when Whites advantage looks minor.
7 ... dxc6 8 Bc4 b5?!
Before regaining the pawn, Black forces the bishop to decide which diagonal it wants to remain on.

Exercise: Why not 8 ... Nxe4 immediately?

Answer: Owing to the weakness of f7. White could play 9 Bxf7+! Kxf7 10 Nxe4, since 10 ... Rxe4 loses to 11 Qf3+.
But Black does have an alternative here, which would definitely suit Morphys style and is even
slightly better for Black: 8 ... Ng4!, as in H.Erskine-C.Tattersall, correspondence 1909, eyeing both h2
and f2 and threatening 9 ... Qh4. After 9 Be2? Qh4 10 Bxg4 Bxg4 11 Qe1 Bf3!, Black gains a decisive
attack. No better is 9 h3? because of 9 ... Nxf2! and if 10 Rxf2 Bxf2+ 11 Kxf2, Black wins with 11 ...
Qd4+.

Exercise: How should Black reply to 10 Bxf7+ in the second line?

081
 Answer: Not with 10 ... Kxf7? due to 11 Qh5+ and 12 Qxc5, nor with 10 ... Kf8? 11 Bxe8 and the knight is pinned. The correct
continuation is 10 ... Kh8! 11 Rxf2 Bxf2+ 12 Kxf2 Rf8, when Black gains a material advantage.
9 Be2
The bishop would remain out of play after 9 Bb3 Bg4 10 Qe1 b4 11 Nd1 Rxe4 or 11 ... Nxe4.
9 ... Nxe4 10 Nxe4

Exercise: Show your grasp of the tactical themes present in the position. How would you punish 10 Bf3? - ?

Answer: 10 ... Nxf2! 11 Rxf2 Qd4 is decisive, since 12 Qf1 Qxf2+! 13 Qxf2 Re1 is mate, while 12 Ne4 loses to 12 ... Rxe4!.
10 ... Rxe4 11 Bf3
This is a good choice. So too was 11 c3, as suggested by Steinitz, intending d2-d4 and keeping Bf3,
followed by g2-g3, as a defensive resource.
11 ... Re6 12 c3?!

A surprising error, and a clear example of not using prophylactic thinking; i.e. not asking oneself
What can my opponent do in reply?.
The natural 12 d3 was appropriate, as was the pawn sacrifice 12 d4!, when 12 ... Qxd4 13 Be3 Qxd1
14 Rfxd1 gives White a slightly freer game with sufficient compensation.

Exercise: How can Black punish Whites mistake?

Answer:
12 ... Qd3!
Morphy must have asked himself What is my opponent planning?, to which the answer is 13 d4,
and so he replied with a move that hinders it.082The bishop on c1 is the immediate victim, and
subsequently the rook on a1.
13 b4?!
It was better to play 13 Re1, aiming to exchange a pair of rooks before Blacks build-up of major
pieces in the centre becomes too much to bear. White would follow up the rook exchange with Qf1.
13 ... Bb6 14 a4?!
Once again 14 Re1 deserved consideration.
14 ... bxa4 15 Qxa4

Exercise: How can Black continue to activate his pieces?

Answer:
15 ... Bd7?
A very natural move, preparing 16 ... Rae8. Unfortunately, this time it is Morphy who fails to think
prophylactically.

Exercise: How could Paulsen have punished Morphy for his inaccuracy?

16 Ra2?
A fatal error Kasparov. Both sides have made the mistake of playing with only their own plans in
mind, not looking for ways to restrict the enemy forces.
Answer: White needed to dislodge the annoying intruder from d3 with 16 Qa6!, when the advantage would have switched to his side.
Once the black queen leaves the blockading square White is able to play d2-d4, shutting the b6-bishop out of the game and highlighting the
hitherto unimportant weakness of Blacks queenside. If then 16 ... Qxa6 17 Rxa6 Rae8, White can play 18 Bg4! (not yet 18 d4? due to the
surprising response 18 ... c5! 19 bxc5 Bb5) 18 ... Bc8 19 Ra1 Rf6 20 Bxc8 Rxc8 21 d4 with an obvious advantage. Black does no better
with 16 ... Qf5 17 d4 Rae8 18 Be3 c5 19 bxc5 Bxc5 20 Qb7! (or 20 Qa2!) 20 ... Bb6 21 c4 and White again has the advantage.
Going back to move 15, it is now clear that the correct move was the ugly 15 ... Bb7!, which seems
to sideline the bishop well away from the focus of the struggle, but in fact it fulfils a more important
function, which is to keep control of the a6-square. White does not have time to play 16 Ra2, followed
by Qc2, because of 16 ... Rae8 (threatening 17 ... Qxf1+! 18 Kxf1 Re1 mate) 17 Qd1 Ba6! 18 Rxa6
Qxa6 19 d4 Qc4 20 Bd2 a5, solving the problem of the inactive bishop on b6, with a decisive advantage
to Black.

083
 16 ... Rae8
Once again threatening 17 ... Qxf1+ etc.
17 Qa6
Paulsen found the correct idea after all, but for some reason a move later. At that time tempo play
was still unusual! Kasparov.
If instead 17 Qd1, Black is able to activate his d7-bishop with 17 ... c5! 18 bxc5 Bxc5 19 Ba3 (19
Bg4 f5 only postpones ... Bb5) 19 ... Bxa3 20 Rxa3 Bb5 and wins.

Exercise: How did Morphy demonstrate that in chess a tempo is an eternity?

Answer: All the black pieces are ready to join in a mating attack, exploiting the isolation of the a2-rook and the c1-bishop from the
defence, as well as the absence of the white queen.
17 ... Qxf3!! 18 gxf3 Rg6+ 19 Kh1 Bh3 20 Rd1
The threat was 20 ... Bg2+ 21 Kg1 Bxf3 mate. It wasnt possible defend against this with 20 Rg1
owing to 20 ... Rxg1+ 21 Kxg1 Re1+ etc.

Exercise: What is the best answer to 20 Qd3 - ?

Answer: Black wins with 20 ... f5!, preventing the counter-sacrifice Qxg6. Now if 21 Qc4+ then 21 ... Kf8! wins (not 21 ... Kh8? on
account of 22 Qf7!), while after 21 Rd1 Bg2+ 22 Kg1 Bxf3+ 23 Kf1 Bxd1, the attack is irresistible. The white pieces still lack any
coordination and are unable to arrive in time to defend with 24 Qc4+ Kh8 25 d4 in view of 25 ... Bf3, threatening 26 ... Bg2+ again.
20 ... Bg2+ 21 Kg1 Bxf3+ 22 Kf1

22 ... Bg2+
As Zukertort pointed out, there was a quicker win with 22 ... Rg2!; e.g. 23 Qd3 (attacking the bishop
to prevent 23 ... Rxh2, followed by mate on h1) 23 ... Rxf2+ 24 Kg1 Rg2+ 25 Kh1 Rg1 mate.
23 Kg1 Bh3+
084
 Although it scarcely matters at this stage, it was quicker to play 23 ... Be4+ 24 Kf1 and now the
switchback 24 ... Bf5! 25 Qe2 Bh3+ 26 Ke1 Rg1 mate.
24 Kh1 Bxf2 25 Qf1 Bxf1 26 Rxf1 Re2!
In addition to being two pawns down, Whites king remains weak.
27 Ra1 Rh6 28 d4 Be3 0-1

The seventh game ended in another victory for Morphy, following a serious error by Paulsen in the
opening (as we saw in the notes to Game 9); and Morphy won the eighth as well, so that the match
finished 6-2 (or 5-1 discounting the drawn games, according to the tournament rules).
Paul Morphy thus became the first champion of the USA. 100 years later another player destined to
reach the pinnacle of world chess, Robert Fischer, also won the US championship at the start of his
career.
After this first great success, Morphy settled in New York, where he played 161 games at odds
(+107, -36, =18) and 100 on even terms (+87, -5, =8). His opponents were the best chess players in the
country: Paulsen, Stanley, Lichtenhein and Schulten.
Lets now view some games from that period, before Morphys first visit to Europe.
Possibly one of the best known games is the following:

Game 11
J.Schulten-P.Morphy
Blindfold game, New York 1857
Kings Gambit [C32]

1 e4 e5 2 f4 d5 3 exd5 e4

It should come as no surprise that instead of accepting the gambit, which is the most popular
continuation at present, Morphy opts to sacrifice a pawn himself by playing the Falkbeer Counter-
Gambit, seeking rapid development.
4 Nc3
Opening theory was still in its early stages of development in those days. Subsequently, from the late
1960s onwards, it was considered better to play 4 d3 Nf6 5 dxe4 (Keres also tried 5 Nd2 a few times) 5
... Nxe4 6 Nf3 (alternatively, 6 Be3, preventing ... Bc5, was employed by, among others, the most
significant exponent of the Kings Gambit in the second half of the twentieth century, Boris Spassky) 6 ...
Bc5 7 Qe2 Bf5 8 Nc3 Qe7 9 Be3, as suggested by Tartakower; the most famous game featuring this
variation is D.Bronstein-M.Tal, USSR Team Championship, Riga 1968.
4 ... Nf6 5 d3

Exercise (easy): What move did Morphy play now?

Answer:
5 ... Bb4
085
 Of course now there is no doubt about the best square for this bishop. Thats why Keres used to
played 5 Nd2, avoiding this pin.
6 Bd2
Neutralizing the pin. The line 6 dxe4 Nxe4 7 Qd4 Qe7 is harmless for Black. After 8 Be2 0-0 9 Bd2
Nxd2 10 Qxd2, as well as 10 ... Bg4 and 10 ... c6 (as played in C.Von Bardeleben-J.Blackburne, 3rd
matchgame, London 1895), 10 ... Bc5 is attractive, with the threat of 11 ... Be3.

Exercise: How did Morphy respond to the threat of 7 Nxe4 - ?

Answer:
6 ... e3!?
Entirely in Morphys style! We have here a splendid example of a positional sacrifice, commented
Euwe. Black secures the superior development and the opening of the e-file in his favour, albeit now at
the cost of two pawns.
Nevertheless, it is not clear that this is the best move. Subsequently, the safer line 6 ... exd3 7 Bxd3
0-0 was played many times.
Alternatively, in B.Spassky-D.Bronstein, Moscow 1971, Black opted for 6 ... 0-0, allowing 7 Nxe4,
and after 7 ... Re8 8 Bxb4 Nxe4 9 dxe4 Rxe4+ 10 Be2 Rxb4, he had regained the sacrificed material
with no problems as Kasparov pointed out, this is a variation by Falkbeer!; the game continued 11
Nf3 Rxf4 and was drawn shortly afterwards. More recently, in P.Ponkratov-T.L.Petrosian, Martuni
2010, Black preferred 11 ... Qf6, which is also adequate, and obtained reasonable play after 12 0-0
Rxb2 13 Bc4 Bg4 14 Qe1 Nd7 15 Ne5 Bf5.
7 Bxe3 0-0 8 Bd2

Question: Hmm, moving the bishop once again? Is there nothing better?

Answer: This isnt a bad move; the bishop is exposed on e3 and would probably have to shift in any case after ... Nxd5 or ... Re8, so
playing a move which will soon be forced allows White more options on the following moves.
Schulten later tried to improve Whites play with 8 Ne2 in J.Schulten-I.Kolisch, Paris 1860, but his
position deteriorated after 8 ... Re8 9 Bd2 Bxc3 10 Bxc3 Nxd5 11 Qd2, and now, instead of Kolischs
11 ... Ne3, Black could have played 11 ... Nxc3, leaving Whites dark squares weak; Black could follow
up with ... Nd7-f6, intending either ... Nd5 or ... Ng4.
Finally, if White tries 8 Be2, Black can reply in similar fashion to what weve already seen: 8 ...
Bxc3+ 9 bxc3 Nxd5 10 Bd2 and here, among other things, Black has 10 ... Qf6 with a double attack.

086
 8 ... Bxc3

Question: I dont understand this; it doesnt look a very Morphy-like move. Why exchange the developed bishop?

Answer: Youre right, this is not a move that Morphy would normally choose voluntarily. Here he makes it for tactical reasons, to
prevent the knight from blocking the e-file in lines such as 8 ... Re8+ 9 Be2 Bg4 and now 10 Ne4!, when after 10 ... Bxd2+ 11 Qxd2 Nxe4
12 dxe4 Rxe4 13 0-0-0, White would gain the advantage. 8 ... Nxd5 9 Nxd5 Re8+ 10 Ne2 Bxd2+ 11 Qxd2 Qxd5 12 c4, followed by 0-0-0,
doesnt appear to grant Black enough compensation for the pawn either.
9 bxc3 Re8+
Morphy opts to bring another piece into play. Possible was 9 ... Nxd5, regaining one of the pawns
and allowing a quick ... Nc6, while if 10 Nf3, Black has the familiar idea 10 ... Qf6!.
However, White can pose more problems with a move that would be difficult to choose over the
board (albeit much less difficult, once you realize that its almost forced): 10 c4! appears to weaken the
position, but in his book Kasparov describes it as more active. After 10 ... Re8+ 11 Be2, the direct 11
... Ne3 is answered by 12 Bxe3 Rxe3 13 Kf2! Re8 (not 13 ... Qd4? 14 Nf3 Qxf4 15 Qc1, winning the
exchange, A.Petrov-I.Schumov, St Petersburg 1862) 14 Nf3 and, according to Kasparov, Black still has
to find real compensation for the pawn (for example, 14 ... Bg4 15 Qd2 Bxf3 16 Bxf3 Qd4+ 17 Kg3!
etc).
The attempt to improve Blacks play with 11 ... Nf6 12 Nf3 Qe7 13 Ne5 Nc6 is strongly met by
Estrins 14 Bc3!, or similarly 12 ... Nc6 13 Bc3! (not 13 0-0 Qe7! and White has to return the pawn with
14 Ne5, since 14 Re1? loses to 14 ... Qc5+! followed by ... Ng4), as once again the invasion on e3 is not
as promising as it looks after 13 ... Ng4 14 Qd2 Ne3 15 Kf2.
10 Be2 Bg4
Again 10 ... Nxd5 can be met by 11 c4!, as in the previous note. After 11 ... Ne3 12 Bxe3 Rxe3 13
Nf3 Qe7 14 Kf2, Black no longer has a lead in development and remains a pawn down.

11 c4?! 087
 Question: But now this is dubious, is it? Why is that? What should he have played?

Answer: Clearly, this version of the c3-c4 idea does not fit into the category of more active that Kasparov mentioned. It is instead an
extremely optimistic move: White maintains his two pawns advantage and at the same time prevents the f6-knight from coming into play with
... Nxd5.
Despite the position not being very open yet, the pin on the e-file is something that a modern master
would try to deal with as a priority, even though there is no immediate danger. There are two reasonable
moves to try to resolve the problem of the pin, one is 11 h3, and the other is the king move that by now
will come as no surprise, 11 Kf2. Analysis shows that both moves are playable, and in fact White
achieves a reasonable position in both cases.
After 11 h3, rather than taking on e2 at once, Estrins suggestion of 11 ... Qxd5! looks better; for
example, 12 Kf2 (of course not 12 hxg4? Qxg2) 12 ... Bxe2 13 Nxe2 and now, instead of 13 ... Qc5+ 14
Kg3, it might be better to play the simple 13 ... Nc6, keeping the check on c5 in reserve, with such ideas
as the manoeuvre ... Ne7-f5, doubling rooks on the e-file, playing ... h5-h4, etc.
In the light of this, the immediate 11 Kf2 makes more sense. After 11 ... Bxe2 12 Nxe2 Qxd5, as well
as 13 h3 (transposing to the previous line) White can choose between 13 Rf1 or 13 Re1 with a complex
position, apparently with chances for both sides. White is a pawn up, but his king is rather insecure and
he has several weaknesses.

Exercise: White is relying on his material advantage; we know that Morphy, both in general and in particular in this game, approached
the position in a different way. How do you think he continued now?

Answer:
11 ... c6!
Seeking open lines and greater activity, bringing his queenside pieces into play.
12 dxc6?

Question: This move obviously helps Blacks development and looks bad to me. The extra pawn doesnt look so important now. Whats
the explanation?

Answer: Yes, youre right. Kasparovs classic description was: the move of roughly a third category player. It seems clear that some
of Morphys opponents did not have the same understanding as he did of the value of time and the importance of development, although as
Fischer pointed out, Morphy was not responsible for his opponents mistakes. Quite simply, chess is more advanced now, thanks precisely
to the lessons of Morphy and other great players.
As Kasparov pointed out, Absolutely essential was 12 h3 Bxe2 13 Nxe2 cxd5 14 cxd5 Qxd5 15 0-0
with an extra pawn, for which Black has some compensation, but not more. The text move loses, as
will soon be demonstrated.
12 ... Nxc6

088
 With the threat of 13 ... Nd4, to which there is no good defence.
13 Kf1
The jump of Blacks knight is decisive in many lines; for instance, 13 h3 Bxe2 14 Nxe2 Nd4, or 13
Bc3 Nd4 14 Bxd4 Qxd4 15 h3 Bxe2 16 Nxe2 Rxe2+! 17 Kxe2 Re8+ 18 Kf1 Nh5 and Whites position
collapses.

Exercise (easy): What is the clearest finish after 13 Kf2 - ?

Answer: The most convincing line is 13 ... Qb6+ 14 Kg3 Rxe2 15 Nxe2 Nd4 or 14 ... Bxe2 15 Nxe2 Re3+! and wins. Note that 13 ...
Rxe2+? 14 Nxe2 Nd4 would be a mistake, because White can defend with 15 Re1.

Exercise: How did Morphy conclude the game?

Answer: Disaster strikes on e2 Kasparov.

13 ... Rxe2!
This move maintains the pin and increases the power of the knights incursion at d4.
14 Nxe2 Nd4 15 Qb1 Bxe2+
Now Black has both a material advantage and the attack.
16 Kf2 Ng4+ 17 Kg1
After 17 Ke1, the quickest win is with 17 ... Qh4+! (forcing White to weaken f3) 18 g3 Qe7, while if 17 Kg3 then 17 ... Nf5+ 18 Kh3
Nf2 mate.

089
 The position is winning for Black. It does not require great imagination to perceive the irremediable
weakness of the white king.

Exercise: How did Morphy begin his mating attack?

Answer:
17 ... Nf3+!
And with an analysis engines at our elbow we can safely announce that it is mate in a further six
moves.
18 gxf3 Qd4+ 19 Kg2 Qf2+ 20 Kh3 Qxf3+ 21 Kh4 0-1
As Morphy announced mate in three: 21 ... Ne3 22 Rg1 Nf5+ 23 Kg5 Qh5 mate.

Game 12
P.Morphy-J.Schulten
Blindfold game, New York 1857
Ruy Lopez [C64]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Bc5 4 c3

4 ... Nge7
A fully playable developing move. Other options are 4 ... Nf6, 4 ... f5, and the rarer 4 ... Qf6.
5 0-0 0-0?!

Question: Now youve got me confused. How can such a natural move be dubious? Explain please.

Answer: Youre right, it is not clear that this move is objectively bad. But it does require Black to follow it up extremely accurately.
090
Retreating the c5-bishop with 5 ... Bb6 is more precise, in order to answer 6 d4 with 6 ... exd4 7 cxd4 d5!.
6 d4 exd4 7 cxd4 Bb6

Exercise (easy): How can White try to demonstrate that 5 ... 0-0 was inaccurate?

Answer: By gumming up Blacks development and preventing the freeing move 8 ... d5.
8 d5 Nb8

Exercise: A sceptic might argue that 8 d5 has made the white centre immobile and increased the scope of the b6-bishop. How should
White continue, in order to quell these doubts?

Answer:
9 d6!
Preventing 9 ... d6 as well; now the c8-bishop will be very difficult to activate.
9 ... cxd6

Exercise: What did Morphy play here?

Answer:
10 Bf4
White develops a piece and attacks a pawn that cannot be defended, instead of capturing it with the
queen at once. Morphy himself asserted that his move was an improvement on that given in the leading
treatises of the day; i.e. on 10 Qxd6, as played in W.Hanstein-T.Von der Lasa, Berlin 1842, quoted in
Stauntons Handbook. In that case Black can improve his position with 10 ... Bc7 11 Qd3 d5.
10 ... Bc7?
Black underestimates the risks of falling behind in development. He plans, over-optimistically, to
091
exchange the bishops after 11 Bxd6. It was necessary to return the pawn to bring the c8-bishop back to
life with 10 ... d5! 11 exd5 d6.
11 Nc3
It should be no surprise to us that Morphy calmly continues with his development, rather than
allowing exchanges by capturing a pawn which cannot run away.
11 ... a6 12 Bc4 b5 13 Bb3 Bb7

Exercise: Black has found a way to bring his queens bishop into play. What do you think Morphy played now?

Answer:
14 Bxd6
Having exhausted all his useful developing and positional moves, Morphy turns his attention to more
mundane material matters. Now is the moment to regain the pawn.
14 ... Bxd6
This move looks dubious why help the white queen to become active? It was better to develop with
14 ... Nbc6.
15 Qxd6 h6?!
The contrast between Morphy and most of his opponents in understanding of the time element in chess
is strikingly clear. Here 15 ... Nbc6? would have been answered by 16 Rad1, so it was best to preface it
with 15 ... Nc8.
16 Rad1 Nc8 17 Qf4 Nb6?!
It was more important for Black to bring his pieces into play than control central squares. He should
have played 17 ... Nc6, with a not very enviable but still viable position.

Exercise: What is the defect to Blacks last move?

092
 Answer:
18 Ne5
Now the f7-square is difficult to defend.
18 ... Qf6
Sad, but as a result of his 15th move, 18 ... Qe7 is not possible in view of 19 Ng6.

Exercise: What did Morphy play in this position?

Answer:
19 Qxf6!
Valery Beim, in Paul Morphy: A Modern Perspective, wrote that this move was typical of Morphys
style, which then influenced Capablanca and Fischer. Presented with two options of similar strength,
Morphy would choose the clearer of the two, without fear of simplification or, putting it another way,
to extract the maximum benefit from it.
A player with a more aggressive and less positional style, such as Anderssen, would have opted to
keep the queens on with 19 Qg3 and tried to exploit his advantage on the kingside which, it has to be
said, would have been very strong as well/
19 ... gxf6 20 Ng4 Kg7

Exercise: Why did Morphy elect to exchange the queens?

Answer:
21 Nxf6!
The decision is justified by tactics, naturally.
21 ... Bc6
After 21 ... Kxf6 22 Rd6+ Ke7 23 Rxb6 Bc6 24 Nd5+ Kd8, the white rook is trapped but in no
danger.
22 e5 a5 23 Rd3
This prevents 23 ... a4 because, despite the absence of the queens, Blacks lack of development is
still a significant factor. The response would be 24 Rg3+ Kh8 25 Bxf7! and wins.
23 ... Rh8

093
 Exercise: White is a pawn up with a clearly winning position, but good technique is still required to convert it. How did Morphy make
progress?

Answer:
24 Ncd5!
Employing a method which would later become a characteristic of Capablancas play: clearing all
the dead wood from the position; i.e. exchanging all the inessential pieces.
24 ... Nc4
This allows the further weakening of his pawn structure; but after, for instance, 24 ... Nxd5 25 Bxd5
Bxd5 26 Rxd5 b4 27 Rc1, the black position is indefensible in any case.
25 Bxc4 bxc4 26 Rg3+ Kf8 27 Nb6 Ra7

Exercise: Among many attractive options, what do you think was Morphys choice here?

Answer:
28 Rd1
The last piece comes into play, looking to attack. White doesnt need to capture another pawn (c4) to
win.
28 ... Bb5 29 Rd4 Rc7

Exercise: How did Morphy now compel resignation?

Answer:
30 Rdg4 1-0
094
 Winning by force, wrote Morphy, and added: This game has certainly no claims to brilliancy, but
illustrates the difficulty of a correct defence to the Ruy Lopez game. (A.C.M. 1858)
In contrast, Marczy considered this to be one of Morphys best games, in view of the iron precision
of the moves.

Game 13
P.Morphy-C.Stanley
Blindfold game, New York 1857
Evans Gambit [C51]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Ba5 6 d4 exd4 8 0-0 d6 9 cxd4 Bb6 9 Nc3

The Morphy Attack, which was subsequently taken up by Chigorin, develops the knight without
committing the c1-bishop or advancing in the centre, although Morphy also played 9 Bb2 and 9 d5, as
weve already mentioned.
9 ... Nf6?
This move, which looks so natural, is in fact a serious error, one which was made several times by
Morphys opponents. In Game 14 (and its supplementary games) we shall see the correct replies, 9 ...
Na5 and 9 ... Bg4.

Question: How is it that Morphys opponents made the same mistake several times over?

Answer: Information was scarce in those days. There were no magazines and there was much less opening study and research than in
later years. Also, many of Morphys opponents were amateurs, strong ones, but amateurs at the end of the day.
In P.Morphy- J.Arnous de Rivire, Paris 1863, Black played 9 ... Qf6?, which not only looks bad, it
is bad. Morphy responded with the natural 10 Nd5, and after 10 ... Qg6 11 Nf4 Qf6, you now have the
pleasant task of playing with White.

095
 Exercise (easy): What did Morphy play here?

Answer: He tried to open the e-file with 12 e5! dxe5 13 dxe5 Qf5 (the pawn cannot be captured again due to Re1) and continued his
idea with 14 e6. Black felt forced to play 14 ... f6 (14 ... fxe6 15 Bxe6 Bxe6 16 Nxe6 is even worse, since the opening of the e-file is
decisive), but after 15 Nh4 Qc5 16 Be3!, the black queen continued to facilitate Whites development: 16 ... Qg5 (16 ... Qxc4 loses at once
to 17 Qh5+ g6 18 Nhxg6) 17 Nf3 Qa5 18 Bxb6 Qxb6 19 Nd5 Qa5 20 Nd2! Nd4 21 Nb3 Nxb3 22 axb3 Qc5 and now finally 23 Qh5+ Kd8
(23 ... g6 24 Nxf6+ wins the queen) 24 Rad1 1-0.

Exercise: Lets return to the game. What exactly is wrong with 9 ... Nf6 - ?

Answer:
10 e5!
Opening lines is Whites top priority. He cant allow Black to bring his king to safety for nothing.
10 ... dxe5
It is noteworthy that, five years before the game noted above, Arnous de Rivire had already reached
this position against Morphy. He chose 10 ... d5?, which is worse since it allows White both to open
lines and destroy Blacks kingside: 11 exf6 dxc4 12 fxg7 Rg8 13 Re1+ Be6 14 d5 and White won
quickly, P.Morphy-J.Arnous de Rivire, Paris 1858.

Exercise: How should White proceed?

Answer:
11 Ba3!
A thematic move in the Evans Gambit, and one with which we are already familiar. As weve already
mentioned, the priority, even at the cost of sacrificing several pawns, is to prevent the black king from
096
castling into safety.
11 ... Bxd4?!
Trying to keep lines closed. Opening the e-file with 11 ... exd4 is clearly worse; e.g. 12 Re1+ Be6 13
Qb3 Qd7 (or 13 ... Na5 14 Bxe6 Nxb3 15 Bf5+) 14 Rxe6+ fxe6 15 Bxe6 and White gains a decisive
material advantage.
In P.Morphy-T.Hampton, London 1858, Black played 11 ... Bg4.

Exercise (easy): How did Morphy respond?

Answer: With our familiar 12 Qb3!, attacking f7. Black tried 12 ... Bh5 (if 12 ... Na5, one winning line is 13 Bxf7+ Kd7 14 Qc2 exd4 15
h3 Bxf3 16 Qf5+ Kc6 17 Qb5 mate) 13 dxe5 Ng4 (now if 13 ... Na5, then 14 Qa4+ Nd7 15 e6 or 14 ... Qd7 15 Bb5 c6 16 Rad1 cxb5 17
Nxb5 Qc6 18 exf6 is one way to win), but resigned after 14 Rad1 Qc8 15 e6 f6 16 Qb5 Bg6 17 Bd5 1-0.
The most tenacious defence seems to be 11 ... Nxd4 12 Nxe5 Be6, but despite being two pawns up and with fewer open lines, Black is
almost paralysed with his king stranded in the centre after 13 Qa4+ c6 14 Bxe6 fxe6. One curious move which emphasizes Blacks
helplessness is 15 Rab1, with the idea of capturing on b6; e.g. 15 ... Qc7?! 16 Rxb6! Qxb6 17 Nc4, followed by 18 Nd6+ and wins.

Exercise: What did Morphy play after 11 ... Bxd4 - ?

Answer:
12 Qb3
Of course once again White has f7 in his sights, and his position is already much better. Sometimes
chess looks easy.
12 ... Be6
If 12 ... Qd7, the strongest reply is a typical Morphy move, 13 Rae1!, gaining dynamic superiority in
the centre by involving an inactive piece. If 13 ... Na5 then 14 Nxe5! Nxb3 15 Nxf7+ forces Black to
return the queen with 15 ... Qe6, after which White gains both a material advantage and the better
position; e.g. 16 Bxe6 Bxe6 17 Nxh8 0-0-0 18 Nf7 Rd7 20 Nd6+! cxd6 21 axb3.

Exercise: Instead of 13 Rae1, some sources have awarded 13 Ng5 an exclamation mark. To remind us that chess is rarely easy, can
you find a way to call this assessment into question?

097
 Answer: There is only one move that defends, but it looks good enough to equalize the natural counter-attacking move in such
positions: 13 ... Na5! 14 Bxf7+ Kd8 and Black remains two pawns up. Then 15 Qb4 gives Black a choice between 15 ... c5 16 Qxa5+ b6
(e.g. 17 Qa4 Bxc3 18 Rad1 Bd4) and 15 ... Nc6 16 Qc4 Na5, with a possible draw by repetition. If, in the second line, the white queen
prefers to slip away with 17 Qe2, Black has 17 ... Qf5, defending against the check on e6, after which 18 Nb5 Bxa1 leads to tremendous
complications, where the analysis engines consider chances to be fairly equal.
13 Bxe6 fxe6 14 Qxe6+ Ne7 15 Nxd4 exd4 16 Rfe1

After only sixteen moves Morphy has a winning position. Now if 16 ... dxc3 then 17 Rad1 leads to a quick mate.
16 ... Nfg8
Trying to hang on to the extra piece. In a blindfold simultaneous display, another game P.Morphy-
C.Golmayo Zupide, Havana 1864, continued 16 ... Qd7 17 Qxe7+ Qxe7 18 Rxe7+ Kd8 19 Rd1 and
Whites material advantage was decisive.
17 Nd5
Here 17 Bxe7 Nxe7 (or 17 ... Qd7 18 Qc4 Nxe7 19 Nd5) 18 Nd5 was simpler, but the text move is
equally strong.
17 ... Qd7

098
 Whites position is winning, and it looks as if everything wins, but its important never to relax.

Exercise: So, how does White win?

18 Bxe7?
It is surprising that Morphy should choose one of the few obvious moves that doesnt win almost
straight away.
Answer: There was a clear win with 18 Qxd7+ Kxd7 19 Nxe7, when White has a piece for two pawns that will soon be reduced to one,
e.g. 19 ... b6 20 Nxg8 Rhxg8 (or 20 ... Raxg8 21 Re7+ Kc8 22 Bb2 c5 23 Rxa7) 21 Re7+ Kc8 22 Rae1, followed by the invasion of the
seventh rank by both white rooks, or if 22 ... Kb7 then 23 Rc1 Rac8 24 Bd6.
Alternatively, 18 Nxe7, 18 Qe5 and 18 Qe4 were all good too; in each case White wins a piece for
very little compensation, whereas Morphys move gives away some of his advantage.
18 ... Qxe6 19 Rxe6 Kd7!
Thanks to the threat of ... c7-c6, Black regains the piece.
20 Rae1
It is worth mentioning that had White played 18 Nxe7 (instead of 18 Bxe7?), he could have answered
18 ... Qxe6 19 Rxe6 Kd7 with 20 Re4!, keeping the extra piece.
20 ... Re8!

And ... c7-c6 is coming next.

Exercise: True, White has lost part of his advantage, but still has enough to win. What is his best move now?

21 R6e4
Morphy contents himself with a favourable endgame he has active rooks and a strong bishop, which
are not insignificant trumps.
Answer: Yet 21 R6e5! was even stronger, threatening to retreat the bishop, while after 21 ... c6, White can play 22 Bd6!, remaining with
099
a piece for two pawns, since 22 ... Rxe5? 23 Bxe5 cxd5 fails to 24 Bxg7.
21 ... c6 22 Rxd4 cxd5 23 Rxd5+ Kc6 24 Rd6+ Kc7 25 Rc1+ Kb8

Blacks king has managed to find shelter on the queenside and he has restored material equality;
nevertheless, Whites advantage remains unquestionable all three of his pieces are superior to their
opposite numbers.
26 Bh4 Nh6 27 Bg3
Activating the bishop with tempo due to the threat of 28 Rd8 mate.
27 ... Ka8 28 h3 Nf5 29 Rd7 g6
Damaging the enemy pawn structure with 29 ... Nxg3 30 fxg3 would bring no relief, since White
threatens 31 Rcc7 as well as attacking the g7-pawn.
Exchanging a rook with 29 ... Re7 30 Rxe7 Nxe7 doesnt help either, as after 31 Rc7 Nf5 32 Be5,
Black will soon lose a pawn.
30 Rcc7 Nxg3 31 fxg3

Again, the structural damage is not serious. Here White will soon have a majority of three to one on the kingside, which will be easy to
mobilize.
31 ... Rb8
The situation would be equally difficult after 31 ... Re2 32 Rxh7 Rb8 33 a4; e.g. 33 ... Rb4 34 Rh4
Rxh4 35 gxh4 b5 36 axb5 Rxb5 37 Rc6 with a winning endgame.
32 Rxh7 Rxh7 33 Rxh7 a5 34 h4 Rg8?!
More tenacious was 34 ... b5, seeking to speed up the advance of his majority, but White would have
the lead in the pawn race after 35 Rh6 Rg8 36 g4 Kb7 37 h5.
35 g4 b5 36 h5 a4
After 36 ... gxh5 37 gxh5 b4 38 h6 Rg6 39 Rh8+ Kb7 40 h7 Rh6 41 g4!, the white pawns are very
quick.

100
 Exercise (easy): What is the quickest way to win now?

Answer:
37 h6!
Intending 38 Rg7, followed by h6-h7 and Rg8 etc; White is going to get there first.
37 ... b4 38 Rg7 Rh8 39 h7 b3 40 Rg8+ Kb7 41 Rxh8 b2 42 Rb8+ Kxb8 43 h8Q+ 1-0

Game 14
P.Morphy-J.Schulten
Blindfold game, New York 1857
Evans Gambit [C51]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Bc5 6 0-0 d6 7 d4 exd4 8 cxd4 Bb6 9 Nc3 Bg4
The main alternative is 9 ... Na5, which we will look at in Supplementary Game 14.1.
10 Bb5

10 ... Bxf3
Morphy himself employed 10 ... Bd7 here, as we shall see in Supplementary Game 14.2. The most
common move is 10 ... Kf8, which we shall cover in Supplementary Game 14.3.

Question: But the text move, doubling Whites f-pawns to stabilize the centre, looks the most logical, doesnt it? And Black is still a
pawn up.

Answer: It isnt clear. Although doubling the opponents pawns is good most of the time, in this case the pawns are not noticeably weak
and we shouldnt forget that White has gained the half-open g-file. However, the main counter-argument is that Blacks pieces wont be
coordinated for several moves, so he will be in no state to apply pressure to the weaknesses hes created.
11 gxf3
Black must now attend to the threat of 12 d5.
101
 11 ... Kf8
This is a concession and Morphy would certainly have been satisfied with his position.

Question: Yes, Black has lost the right to castle, but his king is not so badly placed, is it? Does this fully compensate White for being a
pawn down?

Answer: Although the black king is in no immediate danger, he has problems with his lagging development and the lack of coordination
among his pieces. It is not easy for the black rooks to come into play and will take time. All this is more than enough compensation for the
pawn.
12 Be3 Nce7

Exercise: Black wants to stabilize the centre by advancing his pawn to d5. What did Morphy do next?

Answer:
13 Kh1!
The most flexible move. Morphy doesnt yet know how best to deploy the rest of his forces, so he
decides to speed up the possibility of playing Rg1.
13 ... c6 14 Ba4 d5
Here 14 ... Nf6 has been suggested, but it doesnt seem that isolated moves will change the evaluation
significantly. Black still faces the problem of how to activate his pieces.
In that event White naturally would not break up his formation with 15 e5?, since he does not gain
anything after 15 ... dxe5 16 dxe5 Nfd5; instead, he could continue to improve his pieces, for instance
with the obvious 15 Rg1 or maybe 15 Bb3.
15 Rb1

Question: A change of plan?

Answer: Not really; Blacks bishop on b6 is biting on granite, as they say, and he plans to redeploy it to c7, so White prevents it for the
moment, forcing Black to make a preparatory move.
15 ... Rb8 16 Qd3
Controlling the b1-h7 diagonal is advantageous to White, as well see.
16 ... Bc7

102
 Exercise (easy): How to continue now?

Answer: With the simplest move.

17 Rg1
There is flexible building left to do, so now is the moment to play a move which is an essential
component of any future white plan: occupying the g-file.
17 ... Ng6

Exercise: And now?

Answer:
18 e5!
We know that Morphy didnt take such decisions lightly, but right now this advance has many things to
recommend it one is that it blocks the action of the c7-bishop, another is that it prepares to attack with
f3-f4-f5.
18 ... Qh4?!
A provocative move, since the queen can be attacked in several ways. Objectively it is not the best
move, but it is an interesting choice from a practical viewpoint and could have been successful, if Black
had subsequently seized his opportunity.
19 Bg5
There are many tempting moves here, such as 19 Rg4, 19 Rg3, 19 Bc2, etc. It is difficult to know
which is best, but ... you have to choose one. Meanwhile, its worth noting that this bishop move exposes
it to a future ... f7-f6, so it will be necessary to figure out whether that pawn break favours White (by
opening lines for his pieces) or Black (by facilitating his development).
19 ... Qh3

103
 Exercise: What is the best way to keep harassing the intrepid black queen?

20 Ne2
Another tempting move; in addition to clearing the third line for a possible Qa3+, the currently
inactive knight is ready either to exchange a defending piece with Nf4 or else help to attack the black
queen.
Answer: Nevertheless, its not clear whether Morphys knight move is better than the natural 20 Rg3 Qd7, followed by choosing the best
moment to retreat the bishop from g5, with the plan of Rbg1, Bc2, etc. White would have the initiative in that case.

Exercise: How can Whites last move be called into question?

Answer:
20 ... f6!
This is the only good response after other moves White could continue in the way outlined above.
21 Nf4?!
This was one of the ideas behind 20 Ne2, but its not the best. 21 Bf4 was preferable

Exercise: How should play Black now?

Answer:
21 ... Nxf4?
Now the game reverts to its natural course. Black could have achieved a good position with 21 ...
Qd7! 22 Nxg6+ hxg6 23 Bf4 fxe5 24 dxe5 Qf5! or 24 Bxe5 Bxe5 25 dxe5 Ne7. In both cases the
exchanges have greatly relieved Blacks position and he is now able to complete his development,
while remaining a pawn up.
104
 22 Bxf4
With the threat of 23 exf6 Bxf4 24 fxg7+ Kf7 25 gxh8N+ (or just 25 Rg2).
22 ... g5?!
This advance is not a good sign. 22 ... Qd7 was more tenacious, although Whites advantage would
not be in doubt. The black king is not as well protected as a few moves ago and White could continue
with, for instance, 23 Rbe1, when all his pieces are active.
Opening lines with 22 ... fxe5 is suspicious: White can play 23 Qa3+ Kf7 (not 23 ... Ne7? 24 Rxg7!)
24 dxe5 (threatening 25 e6+) 24 ... Qe6 25 Bc2 (now planning 26 Bf5 Qxf5 27 e6+, opening the position
even more with a strong attack, while also attacking a7) 25 ... Ne7 26 Bg5! (threatening 27 Bxe7 Qxe7
28 Rxg7+ etc) 25 ... Rhe8 (or 25 ... Bxe5 26 Rbe1) 26 f4 with a strong initiative.

Exercise: How did Morphy respond?

Answer:
23 Qa3+!
A strong move that forces Black to worsen the position of the king. He has no choice, since after 23 ... Kf7 24 e6+, or 23 ... Kg7 24
exf6+, or 23 ... Ne7 24 exf6, White wins in all cases.
23 ... Ke8

Exercise: There are several good moves now.

Morphy chose the most crushing what is it?

Answer:
24 Rxb7!
The start of a king hunt. White gains a decisive attack and a material advantage into the bargain. The
more prosaic 24 Rde1 would also have won easily.
24 ... Rxb7 25 Bxc6+ Kf7 26 Bxd5+ Kg6 27 Qf8
With various threats to mate in a few moves, such as 28 Rxg5+! or 28 Qxf6+! etc. Taking the rook on
b7 was obviously good too.

105
 27 ... Qd7 28 Bxb7 Bd8 29 exf6 Bxf6 30 Be4+ Kh5 31 Be3 h6 32 Rg3
With all four pieces attacking, the mate is not far away.
32 ... Bg7 33 Qf7+! 1-0
Since 33 ... Qxf7 34 Rh3 is mate.

Supplementary Game 14.1

P.Morphy-NN
Blindfold simultaneous, New Orleans 1858

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Bc5 6 0-0 d6 7 d4 exd4 8 cxd4 Bb6 9 Nc3 Na5

10 Ng5?!
This is the only time on record that Morphy faced 9 ... Na5; it was a blindfold game against an
amateur and he decided go on the attack, allowing the exchange of his powerful light-squared bishop in
order to gain the initiative.
Chigorin and Fischer both played 10 Bg5 here, which is still considered the strongest move; this also
permits the c4-bishop to be exchanged following 10 ... f6, but at the cost of weakening Black on the light
squares.
10 ... Nxc4 11 Qa4+ c6 12 Qxc4 Nh6 13 Kh1
Its not a good sign that White feels he has to spend a tempo on this preparatory move, but after the
aggressive 13 f4 0-0 14 f5 or the quieter 13 Be3 0-0 14 h3, Whites attack is stopped short, for the same
reason that could have occurred in the game.
13 ... 0-0 14 f4 Kh8 15 f5

106
 Exercise: Morphy is not hiding his intention to take the black position by storm the advance f5-f6 is in the air. How should Black
respond?

15 ... f6?
This prevents 16 f6, but is not the most effective response.
Answer: Black could counter Whites expansion with 15 ... d5!, since after 16 exd5 Bxf5, all the black pieces are developed and can
easily contain Whites attacking ambitions; e.g. 17 dxc6 bxc6 18 Nxf7+ Nxf7 19 Rxf5 Qxd4. The same central counter-strike would also be
effective at the end of the lines mentioned at move 11.
16 Ne6 Bxe6 17 fxe6 Qe7?
Another weak move, after which the situation seriously deteriorates.

Exercise (easy): What did Morphy play here?

Answer:
18 Bxh6
Of course; showing that 17 ... Ng8 would have been correct.
18 ... gxh6

Exercise: White just needs to bring his queens rook into the game. What did Morphy play next?

Answer:
19 Rf3
To deploy the a1-rook to its most effective square, f1.
19 ... Rg8 20 Raf1 Rg6

107
 Exercise: Whites position now plays itself. How did Morphy proceed?

Answer:
21 Ne2
The knight joins in the offensive.
21 ... Rf8 22 Nf4 Rg5 23 d5 c5 24 Qc3 Bd8 25 Ne2!
Heading for f5.
25 ... Qg7 26 Ng3 Qc7

27 Rxf6!
The most elegant way; with this combination White is able to exploit his passed pawn on e6.
27 ... Bxf6 28 Rxf6 Rxf6 29 Qxf6+ Qg7
Or 29 ... Kg8 30 e7 Qc8 31 Qe6+ Qxe6 32 dxe6 and the front e-pawn queens.
30 Qd8+ Qg8 31 e7 Re5 32 Nh5 Rxe4 33 e8Q 1-0
It is mate in a few moves; e.g. 33 ... Rxe8 34 Qf6+ or 33 ... Re1+ 34 Qxe1 Qxd8 35 Qa1+ etc.

Supplementary Game 14.2

J.Arnous de Rivire-P.Morphy
Paris 1863

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Bc5 6 0-0 d6 7 d4 exd4 8 cxd4 Bb6 9 Nc3 Bg4 10 Bb5
Bd7

108
 Morphy considered this to be the best move. Later, 10 ... Kf8 became more popular.
11 Bg5
The alternative is 11 e5, when opening the game leads to a difficult position after 11 ... dxe5? 12 d5!,
so it is better to continue developing with 11 ... Nge7.
A simultaneous game P.Morphy-NN, New York 1859, saw 11 Re1 Nge7 12 e5 and here, instead of 12 ... 0-0!, Black committed the
error of opening lines: 12 ... dxe5?, which was again answered by 13 d5!, and after 13 ... Nd4? (13 ... Nb8 was almost forced), Black was
quickly crushed: 14 Bxd7+ Qxd7 15 Nxe5 Qd6 16 Qa4+ c6 17 Ba3 Bc5 18 Ne4 Qxe5 19 Nxc5 Ne2+ 20 Kh1 Qd4 21 Qxd4 Nxd4 22 Nxb7
0-0 23 Bxe7 1-0.
11 ... Nce7
In theory, offering piece exchanges when a pawn up is not a bad idea for Black. Morphy was still
reluctant to alter his structure with 11 ... f6; nor was he keen to place his knight in a pin with 11 ... Nge7,
allowing White to increase the pressure with 12 Nd5.
12 Bc4 Be6 13 Qa4+
Here it would have been interesting to weaken the opposing structure with 13 Bxe6 fxe6. Admittedly,
Black welcomes the exchange of pieces, but this comes at a price: after, for example, 14 a4 a5 15 Qb3
Qd7 16 Rac1, Black still needs to complete his development.
13 ... Qd7 14 Bb5 c6 15 Bd3 f6

16 Bh4
Retreating the other way with 16 Be3 seems better, where the bishop is more active and controls h6.
Black should reply with 16 ... d5.
16 ... Ng6
Here 16 ... Nh6 was to be considered, but not now 16 ... d5?!, as 17 Rfe1 reveals why White chose
16 Bh4.
17 Bg3 N8e7 18 d5?!
It was better to play 18 Nb5 first, after which 18 ... Nc8 is forced, and only then 19 d5.
18 ... Bf7 19 Nb5 Bc5 109
 This possibility could have been avoided by playing 18 Nb5. Black is not forced into making such a
passive move as ... Nc8.
20 Rac1 0-0
Whites fireworks have burnt out and he has to beat a retreat.
21 Nbd4 Kh8

A curious move the point being that, with his king having left the a2-g8 diagonal, it is now possible
for Black to take on e6 twice in the event of White playing Ne6. Instead, 21 ... Rfd8 was more natural.
22 Bc4
Strengthening d5 and preparing a future Ne6.
22 ... Ne5 23 Nxe5 fxe5 24 dxc6
Here 24 Ne6 Bxe6 25 dxe6 would have been more consistent with his previous moves. Nevertheless,
even though White has an annoying passed pawn at e6, it is hard to see how he can assist its advance,
whereas the alteration to the pawn structure has strengthened Blacks majority in the central/queenside
zone.
24 ... bxc6 25 Nb3 Bb6 26 Rfd1
Applying pressure on Blacks centre. Max Lange suggested 26 Bxf7 Rxf7 27 Rcd1 Qe6 28 Nd2, but
is not clear that this is a significant improvement.
26 ... Bh5 27 Rd2 a5
A move that looks like an inaccuracy, but in fact it has hidden depths.
28 Qa3 Rad8 29 Bxe5

Exercise: What had Morphy prepared?

Answer:
29 ... Rxf2!
110
 The same shot would have followed 28 Bxe5.
30 Kh1?
If 30 Bd4? Bxd4 31 Rxd4 then 31 ... Rxg2+! 32 Kxg2 Qg4+ and mates in a few moves. The result is
similar after 31 Rxf2 Bxf2+ 32 Kxf2 Qa7+! (remember 27 ... a5!) and the queen invades with decisive
effect.
The only defence was 30 Rxf2! dxe5 31 Nc5 Qd4 32 Nd3, when 32 ... Ng6 33 Kh1 Qxe4 34 Rb2
leaves Black with two pawns for the exchange and the initiative, but White is still in the game.
30 ... Rxd2
Winning a piece; the rest is very simple for Morphy.
31 Bxg7+ Kxg7 32 Nxd2 Qa7 33 Qg3+ Bg6 34 Rf1 Bd4 35 Nf3 Qc5 36 Bb3 Rf8 37 h4 Be5 38 Qg4 Qe3 0-1

Supplementary Game 14.3

P.Morphy-J.Arnous de Rivire
Paris 1863

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Bc5 6 0-0 d6 7 d4 exd4 8 cxd4 Bb6 9 Nc3 Bg4 10 Bb5 Kf8
Marczy recommended interpolating 10 ... a6 11 Ba4 before 11 ... Kf8.
11 Be3

11 ... Nce7
An alternative was 11 ... Nge7, a move of which Tarrasch disapproved, commenting: This position
has occurred before, and my opinion is that White has a far superior game complete freedom and
opportunity for attack on all sides. It is difficult for Black to develop or even to find a counter-attack.
True, Black has an extra pawn, but it is of very little use or importance; with equal players six times out
of ten White would win.
12 h3 Bh5 13 Bd3 f6
To provide a retreat for the bishop on h5, although of course it is a weakening move, and the black
position begins to feel rather suspect.
14 a4 c6

111
 One of the points of 11 ... Nce7 Black prepares to retreat the bishop from b6 and controls the d5-
square, with the possibility of playing ... d6-d5 at an opportune moment, as weve seen before.
15 Qb3

Question: Hmm, knowing that one of Blacks ideas is to play ... Bf7, why did Morphy present him with a tempo?

Answer: The tempo is not an especially useful one and, in any case, the white queen is heading for a3, to put pressure on the d6-pawn.
15 ... Bf7 16 Qa3 Ba5 17 Ne2 Nc8
Making way for the g8-knight; Blacks lack of space and mobility is becoming more and more
evident.
18 Rab1
In contrast, White expands the scope of his pieces with almost every move.
18 ... b6 19 Ba6 Nge7

Exercise: There are several attractive moves here. What do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer: He has decided that this is the moment to take concrete measures and try to open the centre and/or the kingside.
20 e5!
Although this move concedes control of d5, to get squares, you have to give squares (Najdorf and
Fischer).
20 ... Bd5 21 Nf4! fxe5 22 dxe5 dxe5 23 Nxd5 cxd5
He cant play 23 ... Qxd5 due to 24 Rfd1.
24 Nxe5

112
 The position has opened up, all Whites pieces are active, whereas Blacks are all uncoordinated.
Whites missing pawn is irrelevant his position is winning. The rest was very simple.
24 ... Qd6 25 Qb2 Nf5 26 Bf4 Qe7 27 Nc6 Qe4 28 Bb7 Qxf4 29 Bxa8 Qxa4 30 Rbd1 Qe4 31 Qa3+ Kf7 32 Nxa5 bxa5 33
Rfe1 Qb4 34 Bxd5+ Kg6 35 Re6+ Kg5 36 Qc1+ Qf4 37 h4+ Nxh4 38 Re5+ Nf5 39 Rxf5+ Kxf5 40 Be6+ 1-0

Game 15
P.Morphy-J.Bonford
Blindfold simultaneous, New Orleans 1858
Evans Gambit [C52]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4

Fischer commented that it was safer to play 4 ... Bb6, but added that the gambit could hardly be refuted like that. There are only two
recorded casual games of Morphys featuring this retreat, both wins. In one of them Morphy played completely in gambit style: P.Morphy-
F.Lewis, London 1858, continued 5 0-0 Qe7 6 a4 Nxb4 7 a5 Bc5 8 c3 Nc6 9 d4 exd4 10 cxd4

White has reached a very favourable version of the Evans Gambit Accepted. The differences are all
in his favour: the pawn on a5 hinders the normal retreat ... Bb6, while 10 ... Bb4 comes without check,
since White has already castled; all Black has gained is the move ... Qe7. Now White has several
options, of which the most attractive is 11 Bg5, provoking the weakening 11 ... f6. Instead, Morphy
decided to sharpen the game even more with 11 Ne5!? Nxe5 12 dxe5 Qxe5 13 Qb3 and won in the
complications.
5 c3 Ba5 6 d4 exd4
We shall look at 6 ... d6 in Supplementary Game 15.1.
7 0-0

113
 7 ... dxc3
A risky line, but not clearly bad. Instead, 7 ... Bb6 8 cxd4 d6 leads to the so-called normal position
of the Evans (usually arising via 5 ... Bc5), which is solid enough in Fischers opinion.
In the first game of the Morphy-Anderssen match, Paris 1858, Black played the unusual 7 ... Nf6 (7 ... Nge7 is more usual) and
curiously Morphy replied with 8 e5? (8 Ba3! is critical, as Morphy himself played several times) 8 ... d5 9 Bb5 Ne4 10 cxd4 0-0!, when
Black gained the advantage. The game continued 11 Bxc6 bxc6 12 Qa4 Bb6 13 Qxc6 Bg4 14 Bb2? Bxf3 15 gxf3 Ng5 and Blacks
superiority had increased; Anderssen won in 72 moves.
8 Ba3
The main line is 8 Qb3, for which we can recommend looking at the game R.J.Fischer-R.Fine, New
York 1963 Game 44 in Fischers My 60 Memorable Games.
8 ... d6 9 Qb3 Nh6 10 Nxc3

10 ... Bxc3?!

Question: Is this really dubious? I can understand that Black didnt want to be left with his bishop inactive on the queenside, nor with the
white knight threatening to settle on d5 at an opportune moment. Was that not reason enough to make this move playable? After all it
simplifies as well, and Black is two pawns up!

Answer: Naturally, if youre allowed to win two pawns you expect to have to make some concession or other. White now has the
advantage of the bishop pair in an open position. Its not the pieces that are exchanged but those that remain on the board that matter,
wrote Tarrasch. Yet the black bishop was not exactly inactive control of the e1-a5 diagonal was very useful, to hinder the white pieces
from manoeuvring easily (for instance, Qc3 is prevented, while if White plays Re1 then the knight on c3 would be pinned, hindering Nd5). So
this exchange cedes control of important dark squares and makes Whites play easier.
11 Qxc3 0-0

114
 Exercise: What did Morphy play in this position?

Answer:
12 Rad1
It should come as no surprise to us that Morphy brought a fresh piece into play, with the threat of 13 e5.
The analysis engines have few inhibitions about moving pieces that are already developed and they
suggest the interesting move 12 Bb2, forcing 12 ... Qf6, when White can regain one pawn and maintain
good compensation for the remaining pawn minus.
Morphy, on the other hand, was seeking not only to play well but also to reach positions in which he
could outplay his opponent in a complex struggle, so he preferred to keep the queens on the board for
now.
12 ... Ng4
Black doesnt waste the opportunity to activate his knight on the rim. There were other options
available, such as 12 ... Bg4. In that case Morphy would perhaps have played 13 Bb2 Qf6 14 Qxf6 gxf6
15 Bxf6 after all, now that g4 is occupied by the bishop and 15 ... Ng4 therefore impossible. Black cant
exploit the pin with 15 ... Ne5? either, due to 16 Nxe5 Bxd1 17 Rxd1 dxe5 18 Rd3 and wins.
13 h3
Morphy cant see how to improve his position and so acquiesces to an exchange of pieces, in order to
start an attacking wave with the support of his f-pawn.
13 ... Nge5
Bonford continues with his plan. Alternatively, the zwischenzug 13 ... Qf6!? was interesting, to
displace the white queen, banishing it from the long diagonal for the moment.
14 Nxe5 Nxe5

115
 Exercise: What do you think played Morphy here?

Answer:
15 Be2!
A difficult decision; with the text move he plans to follow up with f2-f4 and/or Bb2.
Naturally, it was annoying to leave the a2-g8 diagonal, but after 15 Bb3 Black had a good
continuation in 15 ... Be6 16 f4 Bxb3 17 axb3 Nc6, and if 18 Bb2 then 18 ... f6 closes the long diagonal.
In this line 17 Qxb3 is better, with the idea of capturing on b7, regaining one of the pawns, at the cost of
abandoning the attack.
Another possibility was 15 Bb2 at once; here after 15 ... Qf6 16 Bd5 Be6 17 f4 Nd7, Black has all
his pieces in play and doesnt stand badly.
It isnt certain that retreating the bishop to e2 is much better than the two alternatives above, but it
keeps more tension by preventing immediate exchanges.
15 ... f5?
Seemingly Morphys opponent regarded the retreat 15 Be2 as very passive, and dropped his guard,
becoming very optimistic, thinking that he could initiate complications without much risk. White play is
now easy for the next few moves.
It was much more cautious, and better, to retain the possibility of closing the long diagonal with ... f7-
f6. For instance, after 15 ... f6 16 f4 Nf7, the position is complex and offers chances to both sides.
Instead, 16 ... Ng6 has been recommended but this is not convincing, since White can reply 17 e5! fxe5
18 fxe5 Rxf1+ (not 18 ... Nxe5? 19 Qxe5! dxe5 20 Bc4+ and wins) 19 Bxf1, when his greater activity is
serious.
There is also the typical computer move 15 ... Qd7 (similar to 13 ... Qf6 above), planning to answer
16 f4 with 16 ... Qc6!, dislodging the white queen.
16 f4 Nc6

Exercise (easy): How did Morphy proceed?

Answer:
17 Bc4+
Of course; White forces the black king into the corner and prevents the developing move ... Be6 at the
same time.
17 ... Kh8 18 Bb2
Here it was a question of taste, as 18 e5 was also crushing. Morphy wants to win in the shortest way.
18 ... Qe7

Exercise (easy): How did Morphy continue now?

Answer:
19 Rde1
Bringing a fresh piece into the attack. 116
 19 ... Rf6?!
Not the best defence, but there was no satisfactory way to parry the attack in any case; for example,
19 ... Bd7 20 Rf3 or 20 Qg3 (threatening 21 exf5) is difficult to answer, while after 19 ... Qf6 20 Rf3!
Qxc3 21 Bxc3, the only way to answer the threat of Rg3 is by surrendering the exchange with ... Rf6.
20 exf5 Qf8

Exercise: There are several very good moves here. Morphy chose the most artistic (and strongest) one. What is it?

Answer:
21 Re8!!
A beautiful way to eliminate the f6-rook, a vital defensive piece.
21 ... Qxe8 22 Qxf6! Qe7
Attempting to block the long diagonal with 22 ... Ne5 can be refuted by either the simple 23 Qg5 h6
24 Qg3 or, more artistically, 23 fxe5! gxf6 24 exf6 etc.
23 Qxg7+!
Poetry right to the end. Morphy spurns the prosaic win with 23 Qxe7 Nxe7 24 Re1.
23 ... Qxg7 24 f6

24 ... Qxg2+
After 24 ... Qf8, the black king is forced to enter Whites camp: 25 f7+ Ne5 26 fxe5 h5 (or 26 ... Kg7
27 e6+ Kh6 28 e7 etc) 27 e6+ Kh7 28 Bd3+ Kh6 29 Rf6+ Kg5 30 Rg6+ Kf4, where mate awaits after
31 Kf2!.
25 Kxg2 Bxh3+ 26 Kxh3 h5 27 Rg1 1-0

Supplementary Game 15.1

P.Morphy-T.Ayers
Mobile 1855
117
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Ba5 6 d4 d6 7 Qb3
Fischer considered Morphys choice to be superior to the more common continuation 7 0-0, when 7
... Bb6 constitutes the Lasker Defence, which put the Evans Gambit out of commission, according to
Fischer.
7 ... Qe7?!

Exercise (easy): The main continuation is 7 ... Qd7, as we already noted in Game 2. How can Blacks inaccuracy be exploited?

Answer:
8 d5
Showing that 7 ... Qd7 would have been better, leaving e7 free for the knight and controlling the a4-
e8 diagonal.
8 ... Nd4
Blacks reply was forced; any other retreat and he would lose a piece to 9 Qa4+.
9 Bb5+?!
Morphy decides to enter complications.
Here 9 Qa4+ fails to 9 ... Qd7 10 Qxa5 b6!, leading to a position in which Black can have no
complaints; e.g. 11 Nxd4 bxa5 12 Bb5 exd4 13 Bxd7+ Kxd7 14 cxd4, and now he can choose between
14 ... Ba6 and 14 ... f5!.
Taking the knight is critical: 9 Nxd4! exd4, but now in A.Kislova-G.Gresser, Subotica 1967, White again went for the piece prematurely
with 10 Qa4+ Kd8 11 Qxa5? Qxe4+ 12 Kd2, when 12 ... Bf5! would have been very strong; e.g. 13 Na3 Qxg2 14 Re1 Nf6! and Whites
position falls apart. Instead, simply 10 0-0 should offer him a slight advantage.
9 ... c6 10 Nxd4 exd4 11 dxc6 Qxe4+ 12 Kd1

Exercise: White threatens 13 Re1, while Black must also deal with the main threat of 13 cxb7+. How to defend?
118
 12 ... Bg4+?
Not a losing move, but not the best either.
Answer: After 12 ... Kf8! 13 f3 Qg6, everything is defended and Black stands clearly better.
13 f3 Bxf3+ 14 gxf3 Qxf3+ 15 Kc2 Qe4+ 16 Kb2

Exercise: The last few moves were almost forced; now we are at a critical moment. What should Black play?

16 ... Bxc3+?
This only helps White bring his pieces more quickly into play.
Answer: It was essential to play 16 ... bxc6!, bringing about a very unusual position that probably offers equal chances; for example,
after 17 Rd1 Ne7 18 Rxd4 Qg2+ 19 Rd2. The alternative is 17 Re1 Qxe1 18 Bxc6+ Ke7 19 Bxa8 Nf6 20 Qb7+ Ke6 21 Bd2 and all three
results are possible, as they say.
17 Nxc3 dxc3+ 18 Qxc3 0-0-0 19 Re1 Qd5 20 cxb7+ Kxb7

21 Rb1!
White has several strong moves here. As we have learned to expect of Morphy, he chooses the most
elegant way to bring his inactive rook into the game. Soon all his pieces will be working together in
attack.
21 ... Nf6 22 Bc6+
Both 22 Ka1 and 22 Re7+ win more quickly (both mate in nine according to the engines), but by now
that doesnt matter.
22 ... Qxc6 23 Ka1+ Kc7 24 Qa5+ Kc8 25 Qxa7 Nd7 26 Bd2 1-0

119
Chapter Four
The Visit to London and the Match Against
Lwenthal
Morphy wanted to play a match against Howard Staunton, and his American supporters were equally
keen to bring this about. The New Orleans Chess Club, together with the American Chess Federation
and the New Yorkers, invited Staunton to travel to New Orleans to play Morphy, but Staunton rejected
the offer, claiming that his many occupations prevented him from doing so, amongst these a work on
Shakespeare that he was writing.
In the press, Staunton was more incisive; in the Illustrated London News he wrote that Morphy
should first measure himself against other masters.
And so he did. On the 20th of June 1858, two days before his twenty-first birthday, Morphy arrived in
Birmingham, and once more challenged Staunton, who was now forty-eight. Staunton once again put him
off. The explanation was clear to Fischer, writing just over a century later: Staunton appears to have
been afraid to meet Morphy and I think his fears were well-founded. Morphy would have beaten him,
but it wouldnt have been the one-sided encounter that many writers now think it would. It would have
been a great struggle.
Morphy and Thomas Barnes did play two consultation games against Staunton and John Owen, both
of which ended in victory for Morphy and Barnes, although of course these cant really be counted as
games between Morphy and Staunton.
During his stay in London Morphy played several games against the masters Samuel Boden, Thomas
Barnes and Henry Bird, of which we saw a few fragments in Chapter One. Later he played against a
familiar but far stronger opponent, Johann Lwenthal.
Before looking at the games from that match, lets examine three games played during his stay in
London first, one of his most spectacular victories.

Game 16
H.Bird-P.Morphy
London 1858
Philidors Defence [C41]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 f5

Question: Is this line any good? It looks very risky to open the game so much when playing Black.

120
 Answer: Yes, youre right. Kasparov considers the move to be not only extremely dubious, but perhaps also losing.
Morphy played this ambitious move of Philidors several times. It was quite popular in the nineteenth
century but has not stood the test of time.
4 Nc3
Practice has shown that this and other logical moves, such as 4 dxe5 and 4 Bc4, are good for White;
in fact the latter has been virtually worked out to a forced win. The only move that does not give White
much is 4 exf5.
4 ... fxe4
Black wants to occupy the centre. According to some old analysis, 4 ... exd4 5 Qxd4 fxe4 6 Bg5 Nf6
7 Nxe4 Be7 8 Bc4 Nc6 9 Qe3 is not satisfactory: the weaknesses created by 3 ... f5 are obvious, and 9
... Ng4 is well met by 10 Qc3!.
Instead, 4 ... Nf6 5 dxe5 Nxe4 6 Nxe4 fxe4 7 Ng5 d5 8 e6 Bc5 is no good either.

Exercise: How can White refute this line?

Answer: Not with 9 Nf7? on account of 9 ... Qf6, threatening mate on f2. Instead, 9 Nxe4! works, intending 9 ... fxe4 10 Qh5+ g6 11
Qxc5, while after 9 ... Be7 (seeking to recapture on e6 following the retreat of the knight), White can play 10 Qh5+! g6 11 Qe5 Rg8 12
Be3!, intending 12 ... dxe4 13 Rd1 Bd6 14 Bb5+ Nc6 15 Qxe4 and Black is lost; 11 ... Rf8 is sometimes recommended instead, though 12
Be3 is very good there too.
5 Nxe4 d5

Question: What is Black trying to achieve with all these pawn moves?

Answer: In general, if Black manages to close the game and gain space, his position would more than playable but not if the position
opens up, as we have already seen.
Zukertort commented that after the exchanges 5 ... Nf6 6 Nxf6+ gxf6 (or 6 ... Qxf6 7 Bg5, followed by 8 dxe5) 7 dxe5 fxe5?, the black
position is full of weaknesses. White has several good continuations, such as 8 Ng5 or 8 Bc4, although todays analysis engines discover
straight away that White can play 8 Nxe5! dxe5 9 Qh5+ Kd7 and now the silent killer 10 Be2!, when the black king cannot be defended
against the imminent attack by Whites queen, two bishops and the a1-rook without losing material.
So 7 ... dxe5 is necessary, when it is reasonable to exchange queens, though White should gain more advantage with developing moves
such 8 Bd3, as Blacks kingside is clearly fragile.

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 6 Ng3
Playable; but 6 Neg5 was stronger, when 6 ... h6 can be met by the surprising 7 Nf7! Kxf7 8 Nxe5+
and the white queen joins in attack with devastating effect; e.g. 8 ... Ke7 9 Ng6+ Kf6 10 Qf3+ Bf5, as in
P.Stepanov-E.Maljutin, Moscow 1992, and now simply 11 g4!.
Zukertort pointed out another strong continuation: 6 Nxe5! dxe4 7 Qh5+ g6 8 Nxg6 Nf6 (no better is 8
... fxg6 9 Qxg6+ Kd7 10 Qf5+ Ke8 11 Qe5+, followed by Qxh8, with a rook and three pawns for two
minor pieces) 9 Qe5+ Kf7 10 Bc4+ Kg7 (not 10 ... Kxg6?? 11 Qg5 mate), when among several
advantageous lines, such as 11 Nh4 and 11 Nf4, Keres gave 11 Bh6+ Kxh6 12 Nxh8 Bb4+ 13 c3 Qxh8
14 cxb4 and Whites advantage is almost decisive, according to Kasparov.
6 ... e4 7 Ne5 Nf6 8 Bg5
For years it was considered that 8 f3 was best. Kasparov gives this move an exclamation mark as
advantageously undermining the centre, but perhaps thats not so clear.

Exercise: How do you think that Morphy would respond?

Answer: Rather than fall in with Whites intentions by playing 8 ... exf3? 9 Qxf3, Morphy would reach his type of position with 8 ...
Bd6! 9 fxe4 0-0, after which, at the cost of a pawn, Black has more pieces in play and poses the question which king is the weaker now?.
8 ... Bd6!
A move typical of Morphy, striving as soon as possible to overcome his lack of development,
wrote Euwe. Morphy didnt consider it necessary to unpin with 8 ... Be7 and characteristically chose a
more active move.
9 Nh5?!
Consistent, but White is moving another already developed piece, while the white king remains in the
centre. It was obviously more prudent to play 9 Be2, followed by 10 0-0.
9 ... 0-0 10 Qd2?!
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 Another inaccuracy; White is now falling dangerously behind in development.

Exercise: How did Morphy respond?

Answer:
10 ... Qe8!
Forcing White to come to a decision on the kingside. The counter-strike 10 ... c5 was interesting too,
but Morphy prefers play with the pieces.
11 g4?
After a series of incomprehensible moves, Bird commits a decisive mistake, commented Kasparov.
This is certainly a bad move, although Whites position wasnt an easy one to play.
If 11 Bxf6, apart from the obvious 11 ... Qxh5, Black can try 11 ... gxf6, reaching a promising position
after the semi-forced line 12 Nxf6+ Rxf6 13 Qg5+ Rg6 14 Nxg6 hxg6 15 Qxd5+ Kg7. Here White has a
rook and two pawns for the two minor pieces, but the latter can be quickly activated. Marczy evaluated
the position as balanced, whereas Euwe disagreed: In the resulting open position the strength of the two
black bishops should quickly tell.
The alternative move order 11 Nxf6+ gxf6 12 Bxf6 has also been suggested, transposing above after
12 ... Rxf6. However, Black has a zwischenzug that enables him to seize the advantage.

Exercise: What should Black play?

Answer: He should insert 12 ... e3! (this Morphy would not have missed! says Kasparov); for example, 13 Qxe3 Rxf6 14 0-0-0 (not
now 14 Qg5+ Rg6 since the knight is pinned) 14 ... Kh8 15 Bd3, and now Black can play 15 ... Nc6! without any problems, since 16 Ng6+
fails to 16 ... Qxg6 17 Bxg6 Bf4.
11 ... Nxg4 12 Nxg4 Qxh5 13 Ne5 Nc6
After the exchange of the pride of his position, the knight on e5, White has zero compensation for the
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pawn.
14 Be2 Qh3 15 Nxc6 bxc6 16 Be3

Exercise: There are several interesting moves here. What do you think Morphy chose?

Answer:
16 ... Rb8
This prepares an impressive combination, even if 16 ... Bg4! was objectively best, bringing about a
favourable exchange of bishops.
17 0-0-0

Blacks position is very advantageous: he is a pawn up and has no problems. Once again the simple 17 ... Bg4! is attractive, but that
wasnt what Morphy played. He chose a move that is objectively inferior, unable to say no to the artist within him.

Exercise: Can you spot the idea that Morphy conceived, beginning with a surprising move?

Answer:
17 ... Rxf2!?!
Apart from 17 ... Bg4!, Euwe suggested 17 ... Bf5, followed by ... Bg6. Morphys move, on the other
hand, is the start of a very beautiful combination.
We should be grateful to Paul Charles Morphy that he didnt try to convert his extra pawn smoothly
now, but tried to win by spectacular means, commented Karsten Mller.

Question: Hmm, I can respect these comments and I appreciate beauty, but other champions preferred accuracy over playing to the
gallery. Isnt it rather
irresponsible to choose an unclear line ahead of one which is clearly advantageous?

Answer: Obviously Morphy saw that 17 ... Bg4 (as well as 16 ... Bg4) was better, as you say; but we mustnt forget that this game, just
like Anderssens Immortal and Evergreen games, was a friendly encounter, not part of a match or tournament, so for both artists it
would have been unpardonable not to give free rein to their imagination.
18 Bxf2

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 Exercise: What was the even more spectacular idea that Morphy had in mind?

Answer:
18 ... Qa3!!
I dont know what impression this move makes on you, dear reader, but when as a teenager I saw this
move, and the previous one, for the first time, I felt the same amazement as when seeing Fischers
famous 11 ... Na4!! against Donald Byrne.
In those days I wasnt surprised by seeing pieces offered to the opponent (I did it myself, deliberately or
not) what astonished me was that this move, and Fischers too, was actually good ...
Its obvious that 19 bxa3?? leads to mate as occurs after 18 ... Ba3? 19 bxa3?? as well, but in that
case White would be able to exclude the black queen from the attack with 19 Qe3!.
19 c3!
The only move. In the event of 19 Qg5, the quickest win is 19 ... Rxb2!, threatening 20 ... Rxa2+ 21
Kd2 Bb4 mate, against which White has no satisfactory defence. Similarly, 19 Qc3 can be met by 19 ...
Qxa2 20 Rdg1 Rxb2! and wins, since 21 Qxb2 runs into 21 ... Bf4+.
19 ... Qxa2
Threatening mate, and guaranteeing a draw at least.

Exercise: How does White defend against 19 ... e3?! 20 Bxe3 Bf5 - ?

Answer: The only move is 21 Qc2!, which defends adequately after 21 ... Qxa2 22 Bd3 Bxd3 23 Rxd3 Rxb2 24 Qxb2 Ba3 25 Qxa3!,
reaching an ending of queen and three pawns vs. two rooks and a bishop which can arise in several lines. The black pawns cant easily
advance and the evaluation depends on how well the forces coordinate. In this case White is a bit better, not having any of the coordination
problems that we shall see in another line.
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 The white pieces are even more active after 23 ... Ba3 24 Qb1! Bxb2+ 25 Kc2 Qa4+ 26 Kd2 Bxc3+ 27 Rxc3 Rxb1 28 Rxb1 Qa2+ 29
Kc1, parrying the attack and retaining the extra material. (Kasparov)
20 b4
After 20 Qc2?, the simplest way is 20 ... Bf4+ 21 Rd2 Bxd2+ 22 Kxd2 Rxb2 or 22 Qxd2 Qa1+ etc.
20 ... Qa1+ 21 Kc2 Qa4+

22 Kb2?
An unjustified attempt to win, commented Euwe. This is the decisive error, as Marczy had earlier
pointed out.
The correct move was 22 Kc1!. This position has been analysed literally for more than a century, and
according to the latest analysis Black is still not forced to give perpetual check with 22 ... Qa1+, but of
course this may well not be the last word on it. There are at least three interesting moves for Black here:
a) First of all its necessary to examine 22 ... Bxb4. This gives no more than a draw, since if Black
tries to win with 23 cxb4 Rxb4 24 Qg5 Qa3+ 25 Kd2 Rb2+ 26 Ke1 Rxe2+? 27 Kxe2 Qf3+, White
emerges with a decisive material advantage after 28 Kd2! (28 Ke1 Bg4! is less clear) 28 ... Qxf2+ 29
Kc3.
b) Another attractive move is to try to open lines with 22 ... a5, but then 23 Qc2 Qa3+ 24 Qb2 axb4
25 Kc2 Ba6 26 Bf1! is unclear, according to Kasparov.
c) Kasparov also commented: Now, with the help of a computer, it can be established that 22 ... Bf5!
23 Be1! Qa1+ 24 Kc2 e3+ 25 Kb3 exd2 26 Rxa1 Re8 27 Ba6 dxe1Q 28 Raxe1 Rxe1 29 Rxe1 Bxh2 30
Bb7 Be4 31 Bxc6 Kf7 would nevertheless have given Black a minimal advantage.
Another defence to consider is 23 Be3, when we might reach an ending similar to those weve
already seen with 23 ... Bxb4 24 cxb4 Rxb4 25 Qc2 Qa3+ 26 Kd2 Rb2 27 Qxb2 Qxb2+ 28 Ke1. Here
the e4-pawn is still on the board, but even so its not clear whether White is worse.

Exercise: How did Morphy punish Whites mistake?

Answer: Now the bishop can be sacrificed under better conditions, due to a key move.
22 ... Bxb4! 23 cxb4 Rxb4+ 24 Qxb4 Qxb4+ 25 Kc2
If 25 Ka2, the black bishop has a neat way to join in the attack: 25 ... c5! 26 dxc5 d4! (Euwe) or 26 ...
e3! 27 Bxe3 d4 (Kasparov).

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 Exercise: Materially White is not badly off. If he is given time to redeploy his rooks there will be a complex struggle ahead. What had
Morphy calculated to prevent this?

Answer:
25 ... e3!
This is the coup de grce once the bishop comes into play the struggle is over; Black gains a
decisive material advantage.
Kasparov commented: Morphys sound framework and his wide-ranging tactics already resemble
the play of a modern grandmaster. To combat such a hurricane was simply impossible.
26 Bxe3 Bf5+ 27 Rd3
Or 27 Bd3 Qc4+.
27 ... Qc4+ 28 Kd2 Qa2+ 29 Kd1 Qb1+ 0-1

Game 17
P.Morphy-S.Boden
London 1858
Kings Gambit [C30]

1 e4 e5 2 f4 Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 c3
Only on a couple of occasions did Morphy vary from this move, which plans to occupy the centre
with 5 d4. One was in a game against Thomas Barnes (London 1858) where he tried 4 b4!?; the other
was against Alphons Perrin (New York 1859), where he chose 4 Bc4. The main alternative is 4 Nc3.

4 ... Bg4
This prevents 5 d4 in view of 5 ... exd4 6 cxd4 Bxf3, when White has to play 7 gxf3, which leaves
him in an awkward position after 7 ... Qh4+ 8 Ke2 Bb6.
In one of the earliest recorded games, Greco-NN, Europe 1620, Black tried to prevent d2-d4 with 4
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... Qe7, but without success since Greco played 5 d4! anyway. After 5 ... exd4 6 cxd4 Qxe4+? 7 Kf2, the
game ended quickly: 7 ... Bb4 8 a3 Ba5 9 b4 Bb6 10 Bb5+ Kf8 11 Re1 Qf5 12 Re8 mate.
The main reply is 4 ... Nf6.
5 Be2
Morphy wanted to maintain the central tension and try for aggressive play with his pieces (and his
pawns, as we shall see).
In two casual games Capablanca preferred to stabilize the situation with 5 fxe5, as did many other twentieth-century masters, such as
Rti, Euwe, Bronstein, Larsen, planning to answer 5 ... dxe5 with 6 Qa4+ (this manoeuvre is usually credited to Marshall) to misplace
Blacks light-squared bishop. D.Bronstein-V.Panov, Moscow 1947, continued 6 ... Bd7 7 Qc2 Nc6 8 b4 (evicting the bishop from the g1-a7
diagonal, otherwise 9 b5 wins the e5-pawn) 8 ... Bd6 9 Bc4, followed by d2-d3, when Whites play is slightly more comfortable.
5 ... Nc6 6 b4 Bb6

7 b5

Exercise: It is a mistake to play 7 d4? first, intending to meet 7 ... exd4 with the zwischenzug 8 b5, followed by 9 cxd4. Why does this
fail?

Answer: Owing to 7 ... Bxf3 8 Bxf3 Nxd4!.

7 ... Na5
Instead, W.Steinitz-V.Green, London 1864, saw 7 ... Bxf3 8 Bxf3 Nce7 9 d4, and here Black committed an error with 9 ... exf4? 10 Bxf4
Ng6 11 Bg3 Nf6 12 Nd2, when White gained a powerful centre without even having to sacrifice a pawn. As it happens, Morphy had earlier
reached the same position as White in his 1858 match with Lwenthal, who surprisingly made the same mistake (as we shall see in Game
19).
8 d4 Bxf3 9 Bxf3 exd4 10 cxd4 Qf6

Exercise: How did Morphy reply to this attack on his centre pawn?

Answer:
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 11 Be3
Maintaining the mobility of his centre even at the cost of losing a tempo and sacrificing a pawn.
The alternative was 11 e5, but after 11 ... Qe6 12 d5 Qe7 or 12 Nc3 dxe5 13 dxe5 Rd8, Whites
advanced pawns loses their mobility and holes start to appear, without helping the development of his
pieces.
11 ... Nc4 12 Bf2 Qxf4?!
Things would have been less clear after 12 ... Ba5+! 13 Ke2 (not 13 Kf1?! Qxf4, when 14 Qa4? fails
to 14 ... Qc1+) 13 ... d5! (not now 13 ... Qxf4? 14 Qa4 and wins) 14 exd5 Nb6.
13 0-0

Whites compensation is clear the opening of the f-file is not something he is sorry about and the
pawn is not missed, though the sacrifice must still be justified tactically.
13 ... Nf6
Here 13 ... Ne3 was to be considered.

Exercise (easy): In that case, how would 14 Qd2 be punished?

Answer: With 14 ... Qxh2+!.

But despite being two pawns up after 14 Qc1 Bxd4, Black is playing only with his already developed
pieces, and the tactics come out in Whites favour after a series of not very obvious moves: 15 Na3 Qh6
(to break the pin) 16 Rd1! Be5 17 Bxe3 Qxh2+ 18 Kf1 Bxa1

Now 19 Qxa1 Nf6, followed by castling, would give Black a satisfactory position, with a rook and
three pawns for the two minor pieces, which are not very well coordinated. But instead of taking the
bishop straight away, White has the zwischenzug 19 b6!!.
If the bishop retreats with 19 ... Be5, say, then 20 Nb5 and there is no way to prevent White from
129
winning material; e.g. 20 ... c6 (or 20 ... Rd8? 21 Nxc7+, followed by 22 bxa7) 21 Nc7+ Ke7 22 Nxa8
Nf6 and Black is a piece down, as there is no way of trapping the white knight; while after 19 ... axb6
20 Nb5! Kf8 21 Qxa1, or 19 ... c6 20 Qxa1 Nf6 21 bxa7, White recaptures the bishop under far superior
conditions.

Exercise: What is Whites best move?

14 Qd3
Morphy contents himself with the advantage of better development and he has a clear plan of attack in
mind. First he wants to drive the black knight away, in order to play Nc3, since 14 Nc3?! immediately
would be met by 14 ... Nd2 15 Re1 0-0.
Answer: However, it was possible to attack at once, without waiting for all the pieces to be developed. After 14 Qe2! Na5, its clear that
the queen is much more aggressively placed on e2, since White can now play 15 e5!, followed by e5-e6 to open the position, when his
advantage is almost decisive; for example, 15 ... dxe5 16 dxe5 Nd7 17 e6 Nf6 18 Bxb6 axb6 19 Bc6+ wins the queen.
14 ... Na5 15 Nc3 0-0
It was more prudent to eliminate one of the white bishops with 15 ... Ng4. After, for example, 16
Bxg4 Qxg4 17 Nd5 0-0 18 Ne7+ Kh8 19 Nf5, with the idea of Rae1-e3, the offside black knight means
that White is not worried about being a pawn down, but neither does Black have any immediate
problems.

Exercise: All the white pieces are now in play, apart from the rook on a1. There are several possibilities here which do you think
Morphy chose?

Answer:
16 g3
With this and the following move Morphy tries to exploit the uncomfortable position of the black
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queen.

Question: This isnt very threatening or impressive though, is it?

Answer: Morphy plays with what he has. The position is approximately equal for now.
16 ... Qh6 17 Kg2
Morphy continues with his idea; now hes controlling h3.
17 ... Rae8 18 Rae1 Kh8?!
This is very passive; 18 ... Qg6!? would have placed more obstacles in Whites way.
19 Be3 Qg6

Exercise: How did White follow up the plan initiated with 16 g3 - ?

Answer:
20 Ne2
Of course; the threat is now 21 Nf4 Qh6 22 Ne6. The move is a simple one but must be justified
tactically, since the e4-pawn is left hanging.
20 ... h6
This prepares a bolthole for the queen. 20 ... Nxe4? was impossible owing to 21 Nf4 Qf5 22 g4 and
wins.
The exchange sacrifice 20 ... Rxe4 21 Nf4 Rxf4 22 Qxg6 hxg6 23 Bxf4 Bxd4 was also unsatisfactory.
Although Black has no less than three pawns for the exchange, his pieces are placed so awkwardly, and
Whites so well, that his compensation is insufficient. Heres a sample continuation: 24 Re7 Bb6 25 g4!
Kg8 26 g5 Nh5 27 Bd2 Nc4 28 Bc1 a6 29 Bd5 Ne5 30 Bb2 and f7 falls with a big advantage to White.
21 Bd2!

131
 Question: Whats so good about this? Wasnt it better to play the obvious 21 Nf4 first?

Answer: Youre right that 21 Nf4 was a good alternative, though after 21 ... Qh7 the best move is probably 22 Bd2 anyway.
Morphys choice strikes me as admirable the idea is to lend more strength to the future advance e4-
e5 (which will come after the preparatory Nf4). Moving the bishop to d2 not only activates the rook on
e1, it also puts pressure on the knight on a5, while the bishop may prove useful on the a3-f8 diagonal.
21 ... d5?
A very weak reply; Black cracks under the pressure and makes Whites task easier after a short
sequence Black loses at least a pawn. However, his position was now very uncomfortable in any event;
for instance, the strength of 21 Bd2 can be seen after 21 ... c6 22 Nf4 Qh7 23 Bb4.
The exchange sacrifice 21 ... Rxe4 22 Nf4 Rxf4 23 Qxg6 fxg6 24 Bxf4 Bxd4 might again be
considered, even if the evaluation is not very different than on the previous move: White has the
advantage after 25 h4 or even 25 Re7 g5 26 Bd2, but this was preferable for Black than the text move.
22 Nf4 Qh7 23 e5 Qxd3 24 Nxd3

The d5-pawn will fall and with it Blacks whole position.

24 ... Nc4
Black decides to sacrifice the exchange instead. After 24 ... Nh7 25 Bxd5 Rd8 26 Bxf7 Rxd4 27 Bg6,
Blacks position is hopeless; and 24 ... Ne4 25 Bb4 Rg8 26 Bxe4 dxe4 27 Rxe4 f6 28 e6 is little better.
25 Bb4 Ne4 26 Bxf8 Rxf8 27 Nf4!?
Morphy prefers to play actively with his 31st move in mind. Objectively, the straightforward 27 Bxe4
dxe4 28 Nc5 was stronger.
27 ... Ned2
27 ... Ncd2? 28 Bxe4 Nxf1 29 Bxd5 is worse for Black.

Exercise: What had Morphy planned here?

Answer:
28 Bxd5!
He wants to return the exchange in return for capturing an important pawn, all based on concrete
tactics, as we keep seeing.
28 ... Nxf1 29 Bxc4 Nd2 30 Bd5 Bxd4?
Black had clearly overlooked Morphys reply, otherwise he would have played 30 ... g5!, when he is
still in the game.

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 Exercise: What was that key move that Morphy had prepared?

Answer:
31 e6!
He creates a passed pawn which will decide the game. The pawn is immune from capture owing to
Ng6+.
31 ... g5 32 e7 Re8 33 Bxf7 gxf4 34 gxf4 Rxe7 35 Rxe7 1-0

Game 18
P.Morphy-S.Boden
London 1858
Two Knights Defence [C55]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Bc4 Bc5 5 0-0 d6 6 c3 Nf6?!

Question: Why is this developing move dubious?

Answer: Later developments in opening theory indicate that, instead of submissively allowing White to occupy the centre with 7 cxd4, it
is more critical either to accept the gambit with 6 ... dxc3 or contest the centre with the pin 6 ... Bg4. Naturally, it was impossible to know
that at the time this game was played.
7 cxd4 Bb6 8 Nc3 0-0

9 d5

Question: This decision by Morphy surprises me. Whites vaunted pawn centre loses much of its mobility, the diagonal of the c4-bishop
is blocked ... How to explain this? Was there really nothing better?

Answer: Yes, its true that this isnt the most flexible move in the position. White is faced with the threat of 9 ... Bg4, putting pressure on
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his centre. So ideally would like to play 9 h3, but this isnt at all promising here owing to the fork trick 9 ... Nxe4! 10 Nxe4 d5, which breaks
up Whites centre and equalizes the game.
However, White could play the prophylactic retreat 9 Bb3, and answer 9 ... Bg4 by supporting the
centre with 10 Be3. In P.Leonhardt-G.Marczy, Karlsbad 1907, White retained his opening advantage
after 10 ... Re8 11 Qd3 Bh5 12 Rae1.
Note that White is not afraid of 11 ... Bxf3 12 gxf3 since, in return for the doubled pawns, Whites
centre has been strengthened and he can hope to exploit the half-open g-file and his pair of bishops.

Exercise: In this variation, can you indicate why the combination 11 ... Nxe4? 12 Nxe4 Bf5 is unsound?

Answer: First of all because White can play 13 Bxf7+! Kxf7 14 Nxd6+, winning a pawn directly, but 13 Nfg5! may be even stronger;
e.g. 13 ... Bg6 14 Bxf7+! (or 14 Nxf7!) 14 ... Bxf7 15 Bxf7+ Kxf7 16 Ng5+ and wins, or if 13 ... d5 then 14 Nxf7! Kxf7 15 Nd6+ Qxd6 16
Qxf5+ Kg8 17 Qxd5+.
9 ... Na5?
Deploying a knight on the edge of the board is something that should only be done after very careful
evaluation of the consequences, since it runs the risk of requiring too many tempi to bring it back into
play. Morphy will show that here it is an incorrect decision. It was better to play 9 ... Ne5 10 Nxe5
dxe5, when Black would have few grounds for complaint.
10 Bd3
With the threat of 11 b4.
10 ... c5

Exercise: Blacks last move was forced, in order to save his knight, but it fails to solve the other defects in his position. How did Morphy
highlight this?

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 Answer:
11 Bg5!
The pawn structure is similar to a Benoni, but with the a5-knight and the b6-bishop out of position on
the queenside. These snags are underlined by this pin, which can only be shaken off at the cost of
weakening the kingside.
11 ... h6 12 Bh4 Bg4
Black is also trying to restrict Whites mobility with a pin on the kings knight, but it will soon be
clear that these two pins are made under very different conditions.

Exercise: What do you think Morphy played here?

Answer:
13 h3!
First of all, White puts the question to the bishop, forcing a decision.
13 ... Bh5
A difficult choice with this move Black maintains the pin, but risks this bishop being pushed out of
play as well.
The alternative 13 ... Bxf3 14 Qxf3 wasnt pleasant either: as mentioned above the pawn structure
resembles a Benoni, with obvious disadvantages for Black, since his bishop is over on b6 (instead of
g7) and his knight is on a5 (instead of d7), with the result that his queenside pawn majority has been
devalued. White, meanwhile, has a clear plus in the centre and on the kingside.

Exercise: How did Morphy deal with the pin?

Answer:
14 g4!
There was no doubt that ... g7-g5 would weaken Blacks kingside, but the situation is very different
with respect to Whites g2-g4 advance. Black is in no position to be able to exploit the weakening of the
white kingside. Much more important factors are that the black bishop is shut out of play, while White
gains space and, by unpinning, restores the mobility of his f3-knight.
14 ... Bg6 15 Qd2

Question: Given that we are, as you say, in a sort of Benoni, wasnt it already possible to carry out the typical break 15 e5 - ?

Answer: It was indeed possible and after, for example, 15 ... dxe5 16 Nxe5 Bxd3 17 Qxd3, White is slightly better. But Morphy prefers
not to open the game just yet; he wants to have all his pieces activated first. With his last move he plans to bring his only inactive piece, the
a1-rook, into play. This improves his position in way that Black is unable to imitate.
15 ... Re8 16 Rae1 Bc7

Question: This is hardly a very active move, is it?

Answer: No, it isnt, but there was scarcely anything better. The 135
positive part is it that reduces the impact of the e4-e5 advance. Its also
the first step towards bringing the a5-knight back into the game by playing ... b7-b6 or, ideally, ... b7-b5.
17 Nb5
With the threat of 18 Bxf6 gxf6 19 Qxh6.
17 ... Kh7?

Exercise: Black defends the h6-pawn prophylactically, so that he can answer Bxf6 with ... g7xf6 without losing h6-pawn. How did
Morphy show that this wasnt a good decision?

Answer:
18 Bxf6!
With this exchange Morphy starts a manoeuvre which gives him a clear advantage. In the first place
the black kingside suffers damage.
This was not the only good move the thematic 18 e5! was also strong here.
18 ... gxf6

Exercise: How did Morphy proceed?

Answer:
19 Nxc7!

Question: Exchanging the passive bishop was this best?

Answer: Yes. It will soon become clear that, instead of 17 ... Kh7, Black would have done better to play 17 ... Bb8, preventing this
exchange of his bad one. The reason is that its not the pieces that are exchanged but those that remain on the board that matter
(Tarrasch), so an important factor here is that the black knight still remains inactive on a5. And, of course, the weakness of Blacks kingside
is important too.
19 ... Qxc7 20 Qc3
This attacks f6 and threatens to win a piece with 21 b4, since the c5-pawn is pinned.
20 ... Qd8

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 Exercise: What plan did Morphy have in mind to follow up the recent piece exchanges?

Answer:
21 Nh4
Starting an infantry attack; the knight makes way for the advance of the f-pawn.
21 ... b6 22 f4 Kg7
The alternative was 22 ... Kg8, evading the X-ray pressure from the queen on c3, but it wasnt
really any better as White could continue as in the game anyway.

Exercise: How did Morphy continue here?

Answer:
23 Nxg6
Yet another exchange that might appear surprising at first sight, since it repairs Blacks structure. But
this is only the first step.

Question: Why not shut the bishop completely out of play with 23 f5 - ?

Answer: That is good too, yes, as White is virtually a piece up, but it would take longer to win the game. Morphys approach is a more
concrete one.
23 ... fxg6

Exercise: How did Morphy complete his plan?

Answer:
137
 24 e5!
This pawn break was the idea, opening the game in order to attack Blacks castled position, involving
all Whites active pieces on the kingside; in contrast, Black is playing without his a8-rook and a5-knight.
Going back a move, 23 e5 would also have been strong.
24 ... Rc8
After 24 ... c4 25 Bb1, White demonstrates that g6 is a weakness; for example, 25 ... dxe5 26 fxe5
Qxd5 27 Rxf6 Re6, and now the quickest way is 28 b4! cxb3 29 Qc7+ Kh8 30 Bxg6, when there is no
defence.

Exercise: There are now several ways to try to breach Blacks position. What do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer:
25 Bb1!
Consistent with 23 Nxg6, emphasizing the weakness of g6 again. In some lines White can line up a battery with Qc2 or Qd3.
25 ... Kf7
Trying to keep the game closed; opening things up with 25 ... dxe5 26 fxe5 Qxd5 27 exf6+ Kh7 would
allow White several ways to win, the quickest being 28 Bxg6+! Kxg6 29 Qc2+ etc.
26 e6+ Kg7

27 Qd3
As planned this destroys Blacks kingside and wins material. However, it was even stronger here to
maintain the pressure on f6 with 27 g5!, threatening e6-e7+, or if 27 ... Qe7 then 28 Re2, followed by
Rg2.
27 ... f5
Forced.
28 gxf5 Qf6 29 fxg6 Qxb2?
Allowing Whites pawn majority to advance is fatal. The only way to resist was by 29 ... Re7!,
praying that that the blockade on the dark squares holds. This would require White to open a second
front, possibly by preparing the advance b2-b4.
30 f5 Qf6
If 30 ... c4, rather than 31 Qg3 followed by Qxd6, it is simpler to play 31 f6+ Qxf6 32 Rxf6 cxd3 33
Rf7+ Kg8 34 Bxd3 with an easy win.

138
 Exercise: How did Morphy administer the coup de grce?

Answer:
31 e7!
Preventing ... Re7 and preparing to remove the blockading queen with 32 Re6.
31 ... c4
Of course 31 ... Rxe7? loses to 32 Rxe7+ Qxe7 33 f6+.
32 Qg3 c3 33 Re6 Qd4+ 34 Qf2 Qxd5 35 f6+ 1-0
Its mate after 35 ... Kh8 36 g7+ Kg8 37 f7+ Kxg7 38 Qf6.

The 17th of July 1858 saw the start of the first serious encounter of Morphys stay in Europe, a match
with Johann Lwenthal. Although Morphy had beaten him on the other side of the Atlantic, Lwenthal
was a professional player and shortly before had defeated Adolf Anderssen in Manchester. Furthermore,
not long after the match against Morphy, in August 1858 Lwenthal achieved the greatest success of his
career, winning the British Chess Association Congress knockout tournament in Birmingham.
In the first game of their match, Morphy achieved a good position and, as usual, played to win, taking
risks and objectively standing worse on a number of occasions, but it ended in a draw.
The second game of the match is given in Supplementary Game 19.1; we shall see that, in spite of his
victory, Morphys play was not yet at its highest level.
In the third game Lwenthal gained the advantage; he could have agreed a draw but went on playing,
apparently believing that his position was sound and that he could press without risk, but Morphy soon
showed that this was not an easy task. Lets now look briefly at an extract from this game.

J.Lwenthal- P.Morphy
3rd matchgame, London 1858

139
 White to play

Here Lwenthal could still have forced a draw with 30 Re8+, but ...
30 Qe2?
White is relying on his rook on the seventh and the passivity of the black bishop to be able to keep
playing for a win, but in reality this move doesnt threat 31 Rxa7 since 31 ... Re1 then wins.
30 ... Kf8!
Taking the initiative by threatening 31 ... Rxf1+. In a few moves the situation is completely turned
round.
31 Re5 f4 32 f3 Qc1 33 h4 h6 34 c5 Kg7!

Surprisingly, White no longer has any useful moves, and when his pawn moves run out he will find
himself in zugzwang.
35 Re4 Qxc5+ 36 Kh2 Qc1 37 Kg1 Rd2 38 Qa6 Rxa2 39 Qd3 Rd2 40 Qa6 Rd1 41 g3 fxg3 42
Kg2 Qc5 43 Kxg3 Qg1+ 44 Bg2 Rd2 45 Qf1 Qxf1
Again playing like Capablanca in the following century. Morphy could keep the queens on and
proceed with advantage, but heading for the endgame is the simplest way.
46 Bxf1 Kf6 47 Bc4 Bxc4 48 Rxc4 Rd6

140
 The rook ending two pawns up is clearly winning. Morphy didnt conduct it in entirely exemplary fashion, and in fact gave Lwenthal the
chance of a theoretical draw at one point, but still ... 0-1 in 80 moves.

Game 19
P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
4th matchgame, London 1858
Kings Gambit [C30]

1 e4 e5 2 f4 Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 c3 Bg4 5 Be2

In the second game of the match Morphy chose 5 Bc4, and was very lucky to win, as we shall see in
Supplementary Game 19.1.
5 ... Bxf3
Boden played 5 ... Nc6 first in Game 17.
6 Bxf3 Nc6
In M.Chigorin-G.Marco, Monte Carlo 1901, Black tried 6 ... exf4, in order to answer 7 d4 with 7 ... Qh4+, but after 8 g3! fxg3 9 hxg3
Qxg3+ 10 Ke2 Bb6 11 Rg1 Qh2+ 12 Rg2 Qh3 13 Rxg7 Nd7, the strong white centre provided more than enough compensation for the
pawn. White could continue, for instance, with 14 a4 a5 15 Bg4 Qh2+ 16 Kd3 and Black has development problems.
7 b4
Morphy was very fond of this queenside expansion, which he also used in game two of the match.
Another plan was 7 d3, followed by Qe2 and Be3.
7 ... Bb6 8 b5 Nce7 9 d4

This was the idea, occupying the centre and leaving Black with the problem of how to deal with the
newly constructed pawn wall.

Exercise: How should Black respond?

Answer:
9 ... exf4? 141
 A bad decision, which strengthens the opposing centre, shuts the b6-bishop out of play, and opens the
f-file in Whites favour, without gaining anything in return White has not even had to sacrifice a pawn
(as was the case in the Chigorin game mentioned above).
Black had at least two satisfactory continuations. For instance, there was nothing wrong in
maintaining the tension and continuing development with 9 ... Nf6, since taking twice on e5 isnt
advisable for White.
Another idea was 9 ... exd4 10 cxd4 d5, and if 11 e5 Black can play 11 ... Nf5, followed by ... Nge7,
as well as a timely ... a7-a6, opening the a-file in his own favour.
10 Bxf4 Ng6 11 Be3
Steinitz opted for 11 Bg3 here in the notes to Game 17, which may be a slight improvement.
11 ... Nf6

Question: Wasnt it better at least to deprive White of the bishops with 11 ... Nh4 - ?

Answer: This was playable, but wouldnt change the evaluation. Whites advantage isnt based on the bishop pair but on a solid centre
and the possibility of using the half-open f-file, which the removal of the f3-bishop would do nothing to change.
12 Nd2 0-0 13 0-0

13 ... h6
A waiting move, preventing the pin with Bg5.

Question: Okay, but after 13 ... Re8, say, the pin with 14 Bg5 could just be answered with 14 ... h6, couldnt it?

Answer: Perhaps 13 ... Re8?! would not be the best choice. Agreed, the pin could be broken, but 14 Bg5 h6 15 Bxf6 Qxf6 leaves the
black queen X-rayed by the rook on f1 which might prove dangerous for Black after a timely e4-e5. Not 16 e5 immediately, since Black
can play 16 ... Qxe5, but 16 a4! creates serious threats and 16 ... a5?! 17 bxa6 Rxa6 fails to 18 Be2.
14 a4!
Threatening a4-a5, as well as defending the b5-pawn prophylactically.
14 ... c6
The bishop on f3 can be pleased with this pawn contact.
15 Qe2
Morphy is still unbothered by the possible exchange of his f3-bishop with 15 ... Nh4. Otherwise he
could have played 15 Qb3 or 15 Qc2, with the same idea as in the game, when Black gains nothing by
harassing the bishops with 15 ... Ne5 16 Be2 Neg4 17 Bf4 g5? since the weakness of his kingside is
revealed after, for instance, 18 Qd1! Qd7 19 h3. It would be better to make a useful move, such as 15 ...
Rc8.
15 ... Re8?!
Its unclear whether it would have been better to play 15 ... Nh4 here, but given Blacks cramped position, an exchange of pieces was
well worth considering.

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 Exercise: How did Morphy proceed?

Answer:
16 Qd3!
The queen evades the X-ray pressure of the e8-rook and offers the f3-bishop a line of retreat in the
event of ... Nh4.
16 ... d5?!
Black wants to neutralize the f3-bishop, but the cost is too great as this grants White more space.
Since e4-e5 isnt a threat yet, something like 16 ... Rc8 was playable, but not 16 ... Qd7? due to 17 a5
Bc7 18 a6, weakening the black position.
17 e5 Nd7

Exercise: What is the best continuation for White?

18 Bh5?
The idea is good, but it fails tactically.
Answer: The preparatory move 18 Kh1! was much better, with a great advantage for White, because now Black completely lacks
counterplay.

Exercise: How should Black exploit Whites error?

18 ... Re6?
The inaccuracies from both players testify to the tension each felt in this third game.
Answer: Black had the strong counter-strike 18 ... Ndxe5!. The knight cannot be taken, since 19 dxe5? Rxe5 20 Bd4 Rxh5 21 Qf3 Re5
22 Qxf7+ Kh7 gives Black an excellent position. Note that White cant regain the pawn with 23 Qxb7? as after 23 ... Re7 24 Qa6 (24
143
Qxc6? loses the queen to 24 ... Rc8 or 24 ... Ne5) 24 ... c5! 25 Bf2 c4!, intending ... Nf4 and/or ... Re2, Whites position collapses.
Whites best response in the circumstances would be 19 Qf5! Nh8 (forced) 20 a5! with an unclear position; for example, 20 ... g6 (20 ...
Bxa5 21 dxe5 g6 is riskier; for example, 22 Qf2 gxh5 23 Qg3+ and Blacks king is in jeopardy, but he may yet survive after 23 ... Ng6 24 Rf6
Bb6!) 21 Qh3 Bxa5 22 bxc6 (22 dxe5 is met by 22 ... Rxe5, attacking both bishops; i.e. 23 ... Rxh5 and 23 ... Rxe3 24 Qxe3 Bb6) 22 ...
bxc6, when Black is two pawns up but his king position is weak and the knight on h8 is nothing to boast about, so White isnt worse.

Exercise: How did Morphy continue here?

Answer:
19 a5!
An important preparatory move, deflecting the bishop from the g1-a7 diagonal, in order to gain more
freedom of action.
19 ... Bc7

Exercise: How did Morphy crown his idea?

Answer:
20 Rxf7!
19 ... Bxa5 would have been answered in the same way. Looking back, if White had played the
immediate 19 Rxf7, Black could have countered with 19 ... Ndxe5! 20 Qf5 Nxf7 21 Qxe6 Qe7, and
while White is better after 22 Qxe7 Nxe7 23 a5, followed by 24 a6, its not a decisive advantage.
20 ... Kxf7
Now that the black bishop has been driven from the a7-g1 diagonal, 20 ... Ndxe5 21 dxe5 Nxe5
would fail to 22 Qf5, since Black doesnt have 22 ... Bxe3+.
21 Qf5+ Ke7 22 Bxg6 Qg8
After 22 ... Qf8 23 Qh5, White threatens both 24 Qh4+ and 24 Rf1; while returning the exchange with
23 ... Rxg6 24 Qxg6 Qf7 means acquiescing to an unpleasant ending a pawn down, although it would be
even better for White to keep the queens on.

144
 Exercise: There are several good moves here. What do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer:
23 Bf2
With the threat of 24 Bh4+. Interpolating 23 bxc6 or 23 a6 was also strong.
23 ... Nxe5?!
As insufficient as any another move; after 23 ... Nf8, for instance, White wins with 24 Bh4+ Kd7 25
Bf7.
24 dxe5 Rf8
24 ... Rxe5 also loses, most simply to 25 Bh4+ Kd6 26 Bg3.
25 Bc5+ Kd8 26 Bxf8 Rxe5 27 Qf2 Qe6 28 b6 axb6 29 axb6 Qxg6 30 bxc7+ Kxc7 31 Rb1 1-0

Supplementary Game 19.1

P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
2nd matchgame, London 1858

1 e4 e5 2 f4 Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 c3 Bg4 5 Bc4 Bxf3

The less radical 5 ... Nc6 is more usual, as Bird played in London 1858; although Morphy won
resoundingly, it was nothing to do with the opening. The game continued 6 b4 Bb6 7 a4 a6 8 h3 Bxf3 9
Qxf3 Nf6 10 d3; Morphy reached similar positions more than once.

Here Black could have played 10 ... 0-0! and if 11 f5?! then 11 ... d5! is a good reply: after 12 Bxd5
Nxd5 13 exd5 Ne7 14 c4 f6, in addition to the discoordination of the white pieces, the white king has no
safe refuge, which will become significant as soon as the position opens up (e.g. with ... c7-c6), so
Blacks compensation for the pawn will be more than enough. Instead, Bird played the inaccurate 10 ...
Qe7?!, also with the idea of ... d6-d5, but after 11 f5! Rd8 12 Bg5, his position was inferior.
In P.Morphy-S.Boden, London 1858, Black tried 5 ... Qe7, in similar fashion to Grecos opponent in the notes to Game 17.
145
 Exercise: What do you think was Morphys reply?

Answer: Since this was a friendly game, Morphy played very aggressively if perhaps not entirely soundly putting constant pressure
on the black position and compelling his opponent to take a series of difficult decisions.
Instead of, for example, 6 fxe5 dxe5 7 h3, and if 7 ... Bd7?! 8 d4!, when 8 ... exd4 9 cxd4 Qxe4+? 10 Kf2 leads to a lost position for
Black (as in Grecos game), Morphy chose the less clear 6 d4 exd4 7 0-0!? and continued to sacrifice pawns with 7 ... Nc6 8 b4 Bb6 9 a4.
Black defended reasonably well for a large part of the game, which continued 9 ... dxc3+ 10 Kh1 c2 11 Qxc2 Bxf3 12 gxf3 Nxb4 13 Qb3 a5
14 Nc3 Nf6 15 e5 dxe5 16 fxe5 Nh5 17 Ne4 0-0 18 Bb2?! Nf4 19 Rg1 Rad8?! (there was nothing wrong with 19 ... Bxg1, since 20 Rxg1
Kh8 21 e6 f6 is just good for Black) 20 e6 Bd4 21 exf7+ Kh8 22 Rg4 Bxb2 23 Qxb2 Rxf7 24 Bxf7 Qxf7 25 Ng5

but here Boden collapsed with 25 ... Qd5? (the exchange of knights favours White, since he gains
space for his rooks to operate; 25 ... Qf5! still leaves chances for both sides) 26 Rxf4 Qxg5 27 Rg1
Qh6? (now the attack becomes decisive; 27 ... Qe7 was necessary) 28 Rf7 Rg8 29 Rxc7 Nd3 30 Qd4 1-
0. This was a game in which the energy and ultra-aggressive manner (if not the accuracy) of Whites
play was rewarded.
6 Qxf3 Nf6

146
 7 b4
This move, which in reality is one of the ideas behind 4 c3 and which, as we have seen, Morphy was
fond of playing, has come in for criticism, but it isnt clear that the suggested alternative is really any
better: if 7 d4 exd4 8 e5 dxe5 9 fxe5, Black can defend f7 with the zwischenzug 9 ... Qe7!. White can
then gain material with 10 Qxb7, but after 10 ... 0-0! 11 Qxa8 Nbd7, followed by 12 ... Nxe5, White is
so behind in development and his king so insecure that Blacks compensation for the rook (!) is more
than sufficient, and in fact the analysis engines award Black the advantage; while after 10 Kd1 Nfd7 11
Qxb7 Nb6, Black is not worse either.
7 ... Bb6 8 d3
The point of the expansion with 7 b4 is not to open the game prematurely with 8 d4?! since 8 ... exd4
9 e5 dxe5 10 fxe5 can now be met by 10 ... 0-0! 11 exf6 Re8+ 12 Kf1 Nc6, when Black has more than
enough compensation for the piece. Nor is 8 fxe5 dxe5 9 d4 any better, as apart from 9 ... exd4 10 e5 0-
0! again, Black can also play 9 ... Bxd4!.
8 ... Nbd7 9 f5 Qe7
Lwenthal doesnt want to commit his king and instead prepares to counter with ... d6-d5 at an
opportune moment.
10 g4 h6
The complications arising from 10 ... d5 at once werent bad for Black; e.g. 11 Bxd5 Nxd5 12 exd5
a5! 13 b5 Qc5 14 a4 Nf6, but there is nothing wrong with his useful waiting move.
11 Ke2?!
It is noteworthy how Morphy relies so much on his advantage in space and the closed (for now)
character of the position.
11 ... c6

12 g5?
Another excessively optimistic move; the opening of the game, and the h-file in particular, will be in
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Blacks favour.
12 ... hxg5 13 Bxg5 d5!
This move highlights the failure of Whites concept. Now if 14 exd5 then 14 ... e4! 15 Qxe4 (not 15 dxe4? Ne5!) 15 ... Nxe4 16 Bxe7
Nf2 etc (which is even better than 16 ... Ng3+ 17 hxg3 Rxh1).
14 Bb3 Qd6 15 Nd2 a5!
More black pieces come into play; now its the turn of the rook on a8.
16 bxa5 Rxa5 17 h4 Nh5!
Black plays this phase of the game very well, exploiting all the holes in Whites position.
18 Nf1 Nc5 19 Bc2

19 ... Rb5
Heading for b2; even better was 19 ... Ra3 20 Bd2 Ba5 and Whites position collapses. Over the next
few moves Lwenthals play begins to deteriorate he misses several stronger continuations and fails to
cash in what was undoubtedly a clearly winning position.
20 Bc1 dxe4
It was better to play 20 ... Ba5! or 20 ... Nf4+ 21 Bxf4 exf4, followed by 22 ... Ba5, 22 ... Rb2, or
even 22 ... 0-0, bringing the rook to the centre or the queenside.
21 dxe4 Rb2??
A serious error in calculation. Blacks advantage would still have a clear advantage after, for
instance, 21 ... Nf4+ 22 Bxf4 exf4.
22 Bxb2 Nf4+ 23 Ke1 Nfd3+ 24 Bxd3 Nxd3+ 25 Kd2

Lwenthal later commented that, when he played 21 ... Rb2, he thought that this move was
impossible.
25 ... Nxb2+ 26 Kc2 Qa3?!
Here 26 ... Nc4 would have offered greater resistance.
27 Nd2! Bc7 28 Nb1 1-0
148
 Question: Morphy was really lucky in this game!

Answer: Youre right. As previously remarked. Morphys play at the start of each of the three most important matches of his career, this
one and those against Harrwitz and Anderssen, was quite weak compared with his usual level. There was some talk of his having health
problems.

In the fifth game Lwenthal clearly outplayed Morphy he gained a material advantage and won in 70 moves, which brought the score
in the match to 3-1 in Morphys favour. However, Morphy easily won the sixth and seventh games after serious blunders by Lwenthal; in
these games there was hardly any struggle at all.
In Supplementary Game 26.1 we shall see the eighth game, which ended in victory for Lwenthal, basically because Morphy took too
many risks.
Lets now look at the ninth game.

Game 20
J.Lwenthal-P.Morphy
9th matchgame, London 1858
Ruy Lopez [C64]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Bc5 4 c3 Qe7?!

For some strange reason Morphy repeats an original but dubious-looking idea that Boden had played
against him shortly before this match, and which Morphy as White had not handled very well.
5 0-0 f6?!

As Lwenthal pointed out: It seems to us to give a more cramped position than any other defence,
and we cannot recommend it.

Question: Indeed, how do you explain why Morphy should choose this variation, which doesnt look at all like the sort of line in which he
would typically overcome his opponents?

Answer: It is impossible for us to know, since Morphy himself never explained his decision. Morphy generally shunned static positions
and preferred the open game, in which he had no rival. He liked to maintain the pressure, even at the cost of material sacrifices, if
necessary. We can only speculate that he might have wanted to practise and learn different positions from the ones he usually obtained. Its
also possible that, since he had been unsuccessful with White against this line, he wanted to improve his understanding of it by playing it with
Black.
In one of his family games, P.Morphy-E.Morphy, New Orleans 1856, Black chose 5 ... Nf6?! (the
only reasonable move here is 5 ... a6, to be able to retreat the bishop to a7 after 6 Ba4 and also have ...
b7-b5 available) 6 d4 Bb6 7 Bg5! and his position was already inferior: 7 ... exd4 fails to 8 e5 and 7 ...
d6 to 8 d5 when Black regrets not being able to play ... a7-a6 and ... b7-b5. The game continued 7 ... h6
8 Bxf6 gxf6?! (but 8 ... Qxf6 just loses a pawn to 9 Bxc6 dxc6 10 Nxe5) 9 d5 Nd8 10 Nh4! and ended
shortly: 10 ... c6 11 Nf5 Qc5 12 b4 Qf8 13 dxc6 dxc6 14 Nd6+ Ke7 15 Qd3 cxb5? 16 Nxc8+ Rxc8 17
Rd1 Qg7 18 Qd7+ Kf8 19 Qxc8 1-0.
6 d4 Bb6 7 Na3 Nd8 8 Nc4 Nf7 9 Ne3
Seeking more than simply degrading Blacks structure with 9 Qa4, followed by Nxb6, when Black
must play ... c7xb6.
9 ... c6 10 Nf5 Qf8
149
 Black will soon be able to drive the white pieces away from their active positions, but at the cost of
moving almost all his pawns, which is of debatable benefit, while the black knights will be forced to
take up positions which are far from ideal. Of course, to derive maximum benefit from this will require
White to find the correct plan and execute it accurately.
11 Bd3
The earlier game P.Morphy-S.Boden, London 1858, saw 11 Ba4 g6 12 Ne3 d6 13 d5 Bd7 14 dxc6 bxc6 15 Nc4 Rc8 16 b3 Be6 17 Qd3
Qe7 18 Ba3 Bxc4 19 Qxc4 Kf8 20 Rad1 c5 21 Rd3 (alternatively, 21 Ne1, heading for d5 via c2 and e3, was reasonable; as was the idea of
bringing the light-squared bishop to a more active position with 21 Bb5 and Bc4, after the white queen makes way) 21 ... Ngh6 and now,
instead of playing on the queenside, Morphy tried at all costs to attack the black king, sacrificing a pawn after 22 Kh1?! Kg7 23 Bc1 Rhf8 24
g4? Nxg4, when he only managed to scrape a draw after a long struggle.
11 ... g6 12 Ng3 d6 13 a4!
Lwenthal expands on his wing, which is the queenside, where he has the advantage in space.
13 ... Bg4 14 a5 Bc7 15 h3 Bd7 16 Qb3 Nd8 17 Re1
Max Lange suggested 17 Bc4, followed by 18 dxe5, but what Lwenthal played looks better,
continuing to make progress on the queenside and completing his development before radically altering
the pawn structure.
17 ... Be6 18 Qc2 Ne7 19 b4!
White continues to gain space on the queenside, while Black has little to boast about.
19 ... Qg7 20 c4 Nf7 21 Be3 0-0 22 d5 Bd7

Lwenthals play has been successful; White has gained a lot of space on the queenside at absolutely
no cost. Disregarding the placement of some of the pieces, we are in a sort of Kings Indian position (an
opening that was practically unknown at the time of this game), in which Whites queenside offensive is
far more advanced than Blacks kingside counterplay.
23 Rad1
White has several ways to deploy his pieces. His rook isnt especially useful on d1 for the natural
plan of opening lines on the queenside, although we shall see that Lwenthal has a different idea in
150
mind.
There are many possibilities, given that the ... f6-f5 break is prevented for now. One idea was 23
Qb1, keeping the a5-pawn defended, intending 24 dxc6 and 25 b5 or 25 c5, or 24 Rc1 first. Another was
23 Rab1 (or 23 Rec1), planning to open up the queenside with d5xc6, or a5-a6 and then d5xc6.
23 ... Kh8 24 Kh1 cxd5 25 exd5
This was the idea of 23 Rad1, to recapture with the e-pawn and gain a big advantage on the
queenside, with the advance c4-c5 in mind. In return White allows ... f6-f5, judging that Blacks kingside
counterplay can be contained. The bad position of the black bishop on c7 helps; if it was on g7,
defending the long diagonal, Whites plan would have been more than dubious.
Having said that, 25 cxd5! looks better, reaching a type of position that became standard in the
following century.
25 ... f5 26 Bc1 Rae8
Note that 26 ... e4? was unplayable on account of 27 Bb2 Ne5 28 Nxe5 dxe5 (or 28 ... exd3 29
Nxg6+ Kg8 30 Nxe7+ Qxe7 31 Rxe7 dxc2 32 Rg7+ Kh8 33 Rg6+ and mates) 29 Bxe4 fxe4 30 d6 and
wins. But it would have been useful to play 26 ... b6!, increasing Blacks control of the c5-square.
27 Bb2 Ng8
27 ... b6 was still worth considering, both now and on the next few moves, given Lwenthal s
slowness in playing c4-c5.
28 Qc3
White builds up the pressure, but it was already possible to play 28 c5!, since 28 ... dxc5? 29 bxc5
Bxa5 fails to 30 Nxe5! Nxe5 31 Rxe5 Rxe5 32 f4.
28 ... Nf6 29 Bb1 Rg8 30 Rd2
Once again, it is not apparent why White delays playing 30 c5!.
30 ... Qh6 31 Nh2 f4

Question: What? Isnt this a typical mistake in this structure, conceding control of the e4-square?

Answer: Logically Morphy would have been aware that he was giving up control of e4, but here that is less serious than usual because
of the (albeit temporary) position of the white knight on h2, where it is out of play.
In any case it isnt clear that there is any better active plan for Black, and he definitely needs to do
something to counter Whites progress on the queenside. Now at least he can start to apply some
pressure on Whites position and force him to take decisions.
In fact Morphy could, and perhaps should, have played this move earlier, on move 29 or 30.
Alternatively here, 31 ... b6 was still worth considering.
32 Ne4 Nxe4 33 Bxe4 g5!
Now we are definitely in a type of Kings Indian struggle; White is ahead in the attacking race, but
there is still a lot of play in the position.
34 f3 Qh4 35 Rf1 Nh6
Morphy abandons for the moment the plan of breaking with ... g5-g4, although it isnt clear that it
would be inferior to the text move. True, after 35 ... h5 36 c5, the position is not yet ready for 36 ... g4?
owing to 37 fxg4 hxg4 38 Rxf4! Qe1+ 39 Nf1 Ng5 40 Qg3 Qxg3 41 Nxg3 gxh3 42 Bf5 with advantage to
151
White, because the black king is the one suffering; but Black can prepare it further with 36 ... Rg7!,
blocking the X-ray on the long diagonal and creating the possibility of 37 ... Reg8 as well.
36 Re2 Nf5

Here the game was adjourned after ten hours play.

37 Bxf5
Forced, in view of the threat of 37 ... Ng3+. White loses control of e4 but is now able to play c4-c5
in ideal conditions.
37 ... Bxf5 38 c5 Qh6
The queen must return to the back rank to assist the defence. There is no time to play 38 ... h5,
followed by ... Kh7 and ... g5-g4, as White breaks through too quickly after 39 a6!; e.g. 39 ... bxa6? 40
cxd6 Bxd6 41 Qc6 and wins.
39 Rfe1
With the threat of 40 cxd6 Bxd6 41 Rxe5!.
39 ... Rgf8 40 b5 Rc8

Exercise: How do you think White should proceed?

41 Qa3?!
Some of the best analysts in the metropolis came to the conclusion that White should have played 41
c6, commented Lwenthal, but after 41 ... bxc6 42 dxc6 Rb8 43 Qb4, Black can parry the threat of Bd4
with 43 ... Qg6, so that 44 Bd4 exd4 45 Re7 can be met by 45 ... Rf7.
Answer: The move c5-c6 should only be made if there is a concrete tactical justification. It would be better to continue with the idea of
undermining the defences of e5 with 41 Qb3, for example, when 41 ... Bxa5? loses to 42 Rxe5! dxe5 43 Rxe5 Kg8 44 d6+ (the point of
Qb3) 44 ... Rf7 45 Rxf5 Qg6 46 Ng4! with a decisive attack.
Another way is 41 cxd6 Bxd6 42 Qb3 Rfe8 and then, as well as the immediate 43 Bxe5+ Bxe5 44
Rxe5 Rxe5 45 Qb2!, its even better to interpolate
152
43 b6! a6, when 44 Bxe5+ comes under better
circumstances owing to the weakness of b7, while after 43 ... axb6 44 Qxb6, Whites advantage is
beyond doubt.
41 ... Kg8 42 b6?!
This advance is a good idea, but it fails to achieve much in this particular position; furthermore,
White plays it with an incorrect plan in mind.
Instead, 42 Qa2! was interesting, with the simple idea of playing 43 cxd6 Bxd6 44 Bxe5, since the
white queen would not be under attack from the d6-bishop.
42 ... axb6

Exercise: With which pawn should White recapture?

43 cxb6?
A blunder, wasting all his previous good work. It seems that Lwenthal overestimated the possibility
of creating a passed pawn on the queenside with a5-a6. Now the pressure on the e5-pawn is reduced
and Black achieves the best position hes had all game.
Answer: It was better to weaken Blacks structure with the natural 43 axb6 Bb8 44 cxd6 Bxd6 and now 45 Qb3, although Whites
advantage is minimal after 45 ... Rfe8, since Black has the c-file and defends the e5-pawn tactically, due to ... Rc1+ following the exchanges
on e5.
43 ... Bd8 44 Rc1
The old recommendation of 44 a6? fails to 44 ... Ra8! 45 axb7 Rxa3 46 b8Q Rb3! and Black wins
material.
44 ... Rxc1+ 45 Bxc1

Exercise: What did Morphy play in this position?

Answer:
45 ... Qg6!
Simple this not only supports the infiltration of his light-squared bishop, it also prepares ... h7-h5
again.
46 Qb4 Bd3
Activating the bishop with tempo and preventing the possibility of an eventual sacrifice on a6 to
create a passed pawn.
47 Re1 Be7 48 Bb2 Re8
Necessary, to parry the threat of 49 Bxe5.
49 Ng4 h5 50 Nf2

153
 Exercise: How did Morphy continue?

Answer:
50 ... g4!
Naturally, with this typical Kings Indian pawn break, sacrificing a pawn without hesitation.
51 Qc3?!
If White opens the kingside with 51 fxg4 hxg4 52 Nxg4, Black can take the initiative with, for
example, 52 ... Bh4 53 Rc1 Bf5, but White would at least have a pawn for his suffering, whereas now
Black gets his attack for free.
51 ... Bf5 52 fxg4
It is surprising that Lwenthal never utilized his main idea behind 43 axb6 the possibility of pushing a5-a6 at some moment. Now that
the black bishop has retreated from the a6-f1 diagonal again, 52 a6 was definitely possible, sacrificing the pawn to distract Blacks forces.
52 ... hxg4 53 hxg4 Bxg4 54 Nxg4 Qxg4 55 Rc1

Exercise: And now what?

Answer:
55 ... Kf7!
Of course; Black now threatens 56 ... Rh8+ with a mating attack, which forces White to exchange the
queens.
56 Qh3
Lwenthal wrote that 56 Qf3 was better, but in that case, rather than exchange queens, Morphy would
have played 56 ... Qf5 with the idea of ... Rg8-g3.
56 ... Qxh3+ 57 gxh3
154
 Morphy agreed to the exchange of queens because he has acquired two connected passed pawns
which, added to his better-placed king, gives him the advantage.

Exercise: What did Morphy play now?

Answer:
57 ... f3!
Passed pawns must be pushed, as they wrote many years later.
58 Rf1?
This gives Black a free tempo and loses without a struggle, though the position was losing in the long
run anyway.
Matters are more complicated after Marczys suggestion 58 a6 bxa6 59 b7, but Black still wins with
59 ... Rb8 60 Rc7 Rg8!; for example, 61 Rc1 (or 61 Rc8 f2 and wins, while 61 Rc3 e4 is no better than
the game) 61 ... f2 62 Rf1 Bh4 63 Bc1 Rb8 64 Be3 Rxb7 65 Bxf2 Bxf2 66 Rxf2 Kg6 67 Ra2 Rb5 with a
winning rook ending.
Another defensive idea was 58 Kg1, when the best way to support the pawns seems to be the
preparatory move 58 ... Kg6, and if 59 Rc7 then 59 ... e4 60 Bd4 (or 60 a6 e3 wins) 60 ... Bf6 61 Be3
Ra8 and the connected passed pawns win the game for Black.
The ending is still very complex, and there are other lines that might offer more resistance than the text move, but it is unlikely that they
would have saved the game.
58 ... e4
Black still needs to find a way to terminate Whites resistance, but both his pieces are active and his
connected passed pawns are very strong, whereas Whites are harmless.
59 Bd4 Bf6 60 Be3

Exercise: What is Blacks strongest continuation now?

155
 Answer:
60 ... Ra8!
Condemning White to passive defence, after which Black can continue to improve his position
decisively.
61 Bd2 Bd4 62 h4 Kg6 63 Kh2 Rf8 64 Kg3 f2 65 Kg2 e3 66 Be1 Kh5 67 Kg3 fxe1Q+ 0-1
This game lasted twenty hours!
Morphy also won the tenth game after Lwenthal blundered in a slightly worse position, bringing the score to 7-2; but in the eleventh
game Morphy chose the then relatively unexplored Sicilian Defence and landed in an inferior position himself after 14 moves he was down
a piece for two pawns and, despite some ingenious resistance, Lwenthal went on to win.
Lets now look at the twelfth game.

Game 21
P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
12th matchgame, London 1858
French Defence [C01]

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5
We know that Morphy preferred an open type of game to a closed one. This Exchange Variation frees
the French bishop on c8 and leads to a fairly level position; nevertheless, Morphy played it to win, not
with the intention of making a draw.
4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bd3 Be6?!
This isnt the most flexible move at this stage its impossible to be sure whether this is the best
square for the bishop. Black usually develops the other bishop first, to e7 or d6, while for those seeking
to complicate the games as soon as possible there is 5 ... c5.
6 0-0 Bd6 7 Nc3 c6

Exercise: What do you think Morphy played in this position?

Answer:
8 Ne5
The most ambitious move, occupying a central square with the idea of playing f2-f4.
Another idea is 8 Ng5, trying to punish the early development of the bishop to e6, and if the bishop
retreats then 9 Re1+.
8 ... Qb6

Exercise: What had Morphy planned against this counter-attack?

Answer:
9 Be3
The house speciality; Morphy has no hesitation in sacrificing a pawn to obtain a lead in development.
Todays analysis engines are initially attracted to an inhuman manoeuvre which it is doubtful
156
Morphy would ever have chosen: 9 Re1 0-0 (9 ... Qxd4? is bad on account of 10 Nb5!, which is even
better than 10 Nxf7) 10 Na4 Qa5 11 c3 can it really be good to place the knight on a4? The engines
begin to doubt the strength of this original idea after 11 ... Nbd7.
9 ... Nbd7
Rather inconsistent; 9 ... Qxb2 was playable, and if 10 Qe1 Qb6 (10 ... Bb4 11 Bd2 is dubious for
Black) 11 Rb1 Qc7, though White would have sufficient compensation after 12 Bg5, intending f2-f4.
10 f4
Supporting the knight, and Black must also take into account the advance f4-f5 at an opportune
moment.
10 ... Bxe5!
Now Whites f-pawn will never go to f5, and his menacing initiative will lose strength following the
exchange of two minor pieces.
Instead, 10 ... Nxe5? 11 fxe5 Bxe5 fails to 12 Na4!, winning material; while if 10 ... Qxb2 then 11
Qe1 Bb4 (not now 11 ... Qb6? 12 f5) 12 Bd2 is strong, with the threat of 13 Nxd7 and 14 f5; and 12 Rb1
is attractive too.
11 fxe5 Ng4 12 Qd2 Nxe3 13 Qxe3 Qxb2

Question: Is this a good moment to take the pawn?

Answer: Yes. It is less risky now, thanks to the previous exchanges; furthermore, the pawn is some consolation to Black for having less
space.

Exercise: How did Morphy react to the loss of his b-pawn?

Answer:
14 Ne2
There was no way to exploit the position of the queen on b2 immediately, so Morphy improves the
position of his threatened knight, which will now find a good square on f4, from where it will put
pressure on the bishop on e6 and might eventually go to h5.
White also creates the immediate threat of 15 Rab1 Qa3 (not 15 ... Qxa2?? 16 Ra1 Qb2 17 Rfb1,
winning the queen) 16 Rxb7, invading the seventh rank with a big advantage.
14 ... Qa3 15 Nf4 Qe7
Black parries the threat of 16 Nxe6 fxe6 17 Bg6+. This could also have been achieved by playing 15
... 0-0-0, when White might have replied 16 Rfb1, intending Rb3 and a2-a4, with compensation for the
pawn, if no clear advantage.
16 Rab1 0-0-0
Black was probably regretting not having castled on the previous move.
Leaving his king in the centre isnt at all attractive: for instance, 16 ... Nb6?! would allow 17 Nh5! g6
18 Ng7+ (seeking to utilize the f-file, as opposed to 18 Nf6+) 18 ... Kd8 19 a4!, and if 19 ... Nxa4 then
20 Rf6 Nb6 21 Nxe6+ fxe6 22 Rbf1 with a crushing position.

157
 Exercise: How did Morphy proceed in this position?

Answer:
17 Be2!
Clearing the third rank for the white queen. The target (the black king) is now a fixed one, and White
requires the presence of his queen in the attack.
Another good idea was 17 a4!, followed by a4-a5, and might be even more accurate as it would prevent Blacks reply (17 ... Nb6? 18 a5
Nc4? now loses to 19 Bxc4 dxc4 20 d5! and Qxa7).
17 ... Nb6 18 Qb3 Rd7
Defending the second rank; 18 ... Kb8 was the standard alternative.
19 Nd3
We are reaching the critical moment. Blacks previous move seemed to encourage this knight
manoeuvre, threatening Nc5, but the situation remains rather unclear because it also allows the black
knights next move.
19 ... Nc4 20 Nc5

Exercise: Its not hard to see that the black position is a difficult one in view of the weakened position of his king and Whites greater
piece activity, but there is a defence. What should Black play here?

20 ... Rc7?
Lwenthal fails to offer the most tenacious resistance and his position quickly collapses.
Answer: It was essential to play 20 ... Nd2, which looks rather dubious but isnt easy to refute. If White tries to attack directly with 21
Qa4 then 21 ... Kb8! is both forced and good, since 22 Qxc6? fails to 22 ... Nxb1 23 Rxb1 Ka8!.
Instead, 21 Qg3 (eyeing g7) seems a better try, but after, for example, 21 ... Nxf1 22 Bxf1 b6 (not 22
... Rc7? 23 Nxb7! Rxb7? 24 Ba6 and wins, nor 22 ... Rg8? for the same reason) 23 Nxd7 Kxd7 24 Qxg7
158
Qf8 25 Qg3, Black is only slightly worse.
21 Qa4
With this attack on the a7-pawn Whites advantage becomes clear. Morphy himself suggested playing
21 Bxc4 first, which is also good though no better than the text.
21 ... b6
After 21 ... b5 22 Qa6+ Kd8 23 Bxc4 dxc4 24 a4, Whites initiative is decisive.
From a practical point of view it was perhaps more tenacious to play 21 ... Kb8!? 22 Na6+ Ka8 23
Nxc7 Qxc7, when Black has a pawn for the exchange with hopes of holding on the light squares.
22 Bxc4
Eliminating the most effective defender and opening lines against the black king.
22 ... bxc5
If 22 ... dxc4 then 23 Rxb6! wins.
23 Ba6+ Kd7

Exercise: What is Whites strongest move now?

Answer:
24 Bb7!
With a threat that Black overlooks.
24 ... Rd8
This loses quickly, but there was no real improvement. After 24 ... Kd8 25 Bxc6 cxd4 26 Qa5 Kc8,
for instance, one way to break in is 27 Qa6+ Kd8 28 Rb8+ Bc8 29 Qa5! Qxe5 (otherwise 30 Qxd5+
etc) 30 Bb7 and there is no defence, since 30 ... Ke7 runs into 31 Re1.

Exercise: How did Morphy force Black to resign?

Answer:
25 Bxc6+! 1-0
If 25 ... Rxc6 then 26 Rb7+ Ke8 27 Rxe7+ Kxe7 28 Qxc6 wins.
In the thirteenth game Lwenthal had a winning position, with an extra piece, but inexplicably blundered on move 39, overlooking a
simple defence involving the capture of a pawn with check, which allowed Morphy to save himself.
Lets now look at the final game of the match.

Game 22
P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
14th matchgame, London 1858
Ruy Lopez [C77]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 d4

159
 This active move is hardly ever played these days. White succeeds in opening the game, but Black
obtains adequate resources to neutralize the early offensive.
5 ... exd4 6 e5
Here 6 0-0 has also been tried, when one of the main continuations is 6 ... Be7 7 Re1 0-0 (7 ... b5 is
another option, and if 8 Bb3 d6 or 8 e5 Nxe5) 8 e5 Ne8 and Black is able to eliminate the advanced
pawn on e5 quickly with ... d7-d6.
6 ... Ne4 7 0-0 Nc5 8 Bxc6 dxc6 9 Nxd4

Question: This pawn structure is the same as in the Exchange Variation, but with Whites e-pawn advanced to e5 isnt this a plus?

Answer: In the Exchange Variation, Whites superior pawn structure typically compensates for Blacks bishop pair. The 4-3 kingside
pawn majority can be important in the endgame, but Whites structure needs to remain flexible; he shouldnt advance his e-pawn unless this
gains a clear advantage.

Exercise: How can Black show that the e4-e5 advance grants White no advantage in this position?

Answer:
9 ... Ne6!
Lwenthal plays better than Morphy! A month previously, in T.Barnes-P.Morphy, London 1858, Morphy opted for 9 ... Be7 10 Nc3 0-0
11 Be3 and now the break 11 ... f6, seeking activity on the kingside, but after 12 exf6 Rxf6 13 Qe2 Rg6 14 Kh1 Bd6 15 Rad1 Qh4 16 f4,
White had the edge. The fact that Morphy won in the end was not due to his choice of opening.
Thanks to the knight being on c5, rather than g8 (as would normally be the case in the Exchange
Variation), Black is able to exchange Whites most active piece and demonstrate that the e5-pawn
doesnt take squares away from Black but in fact concedes them. It is best to do this straight away, since
after 9 ... Be7 10 Nc3 Ne6?!, for example, White could play 11 Nf5.
10 Nxe6
160
 After 10 Be3 Nxd4 11 Bxd4 Bf5, followed by ... Qd7 and ... 0-0-0, Black has the more comfortable
game.
10 ... Bxe6 11 Qe2
Morphy naturally avoids the exchange of queens, seeking middlegame chances based on advancing
his kingside majority.
11 ... Bc5
Black rejects the natural 11 ... Be7 in view of 12 Rd1, but 11 ... Qh4 or 11 ... Qd4 (followed by 12 ... Be7) was playable.
12 Nc3

Exercise: What do you think Black should play here?

12 ... Qe7
An inaccurate manoeuvre; Black defends the bishop on c5 and then intends ... h7-h6, defending
against the threat of Ne4 followed by Bg5; but it wasnt necessary to play so cautiously.
Answer: Instead, he had 12 ... Qd4!, planning to castle queenside, preventing 13 Ne4 due to 13 ... Qxe5, and not fearing 13 Rd1 either
because the exchange of queens that he can offer with 13 ... Qg4 is more than acceptable for Black.
13 Ne4 h6

Exercise: How did Morphy exploit Blacks positional inaccuracy?

Answer:
14 Be3!
This eliminates Blacks bishop pair, leaving White with an agile knight ready to support his kingside
majority, which is now ready to advance with f2-f4.
14 ... Bxe3 15 Qxe3 Bf5
Understandably, Black didnt relish 15 ... 0-0 16 f4, when the danger represented by Whites mobile
pawn majority is clear; for instance, after 16 ... Rad8 17 f5! Bc4 18 Qg3!, threatening 19 f6.
Nor is it possible to seek immediate refuge on the other wing, since 15 ... 0-0-0? loses to 16 Qa7!.
However, 15 ... b6!?, to prepare castling, deserves consideration; there are no apparent drawbacks to
this idea.

Exercise: What did Morphy play in this position?

Answer:
16 Ng3!
Of course; he didnt defend the e5-pawn with 16 f4, since Black would solve his problems easily
after 16 ... Bxe4 17 Qxe4 0-0-0.
By sacrificing the c2-pawn White gains time to start his pawns rolling forward and retains his knight.
Meanwhile the black king remains in the centre.
16 ... Bxc2 17 f4 g6
Castling short isnt attractive here due to 18 f5.
161
 Exercise: How did Morphy continue with his idea, now that Blacks pawn structure has been compromised?

Answer:
18 e6!
He exploits the opening of the long dark diagonal, threatening a fork with 19 Qc3.
18 ... Bf5
Although it looks risky, everything indicates that it was better to play 18 ... 0-0!, as the attack with 19
f5 gives White no advantage after 19 ... fxe6!; e.g. 20 fxg6 Bxg6 21 Qxh6 Qg7 22 Qe3 Qxb2. The
problem is that the white knight is unable to join in, while the bishop is a good defender.
It seems preferable to play 19 Rf2 Bf5 20 Nxf5 gxf5 21 Qb3 Qxe6 22 Qxb7 with a position that
remains complicated but not inferior for Black after 22 ... Qd6.
19 Nxf5 gxf5 20 exf7+ Kxf7 21 Qh3
Black has parried the first wave of the attack and has an extra pawn, but White has compensation in
the fact that the black king has no comfortable shelter.
21 ... Qf6 22 Rae1 Rhe8

Whites compensation for the pawn is clear, but it isnt enough for an advantage. Now the struggle
begins to see who will be the better at playing his hand.

Exercise: How did Morphy maintain the pressure?

Answer:
23 Re5!
Activating the rook and gaining space, forcing Black to defend the f5-pawn. Of course 23 ... Rxe5?
24 fxe5 Qxe5? loses to 25 Rxf5+.
162
 23 ... Kg6 24 Rfe1 Rxe5 25 Rxe5 Rd8

Question: It seems that Black is on the way to solving his problems. He has already exchanged a pair of rooks and has kept his extra
pawn. Isnt that the case?

Answer: Youre not wrong. Black doesnt stand badly, but dont forget that he hasnt yet solved the problem of his kings safety and this
creates practical difficulties.

Exercise: What manoeuvre did Morphy find to improve his position?

Answer:
26 Qg3+
It is also essential to attend to ones own defences. With this and the following move White brings his
own king into safety, away from any unforeseen checks.
26 ... Kh7 27 h3! Rd7
Black defends his second rank against the imminent 28 Qe3, but resorting to passive defence is a
dangerous ploy. Instead, after 27 ... Rd5!? 28 Re8 Qg7 29 Qxg7+ (White gains nothing from 29 Qh4 due
to 29 ... Rd1+ 30 Kh2 Rd2 31 Re7 Rxg2+ with perpetual check) 29 ... Kxg7 30 Re7+ Kf6 31 Rxc7 Rb5,
Black should hold the rook endgame with relative ease.
28 Qe3 b6

Exercise: What did Morphy, that paragon of wonderful combinations, play in this position?

Answer:
29 Kh2!
The wonderful combinations were the product of a positional advantage. Here the priority is secure
the king before entering complications.
29 ... c5 30 Qe2
As well as attacking the a6-pawn, this defends Whites b-pawn, thus granting his rook more freedom.
It also contains the idea of playing Qc2, followed by g2-g4, though that would need to be analysed very
carefully.
30 ... Qg6?!
Here 30 ... a5 was more precise, maintaining the queen on the long diagonal to have ... Qd4 available
if the white rook leaves e5.

163
 Exercise: How did Morphy respond?

Answer:
31 Re6!
Now this move is strong. If 31 ... Qf7 then 32 Qe5!, threatening 33 Re8, or possibly 33 Rf6.
31 ... Qg7?
This looks like the losing move. Black needed to find 31 ... Qg8!, keeping an eye on the white rook,
while if 32 Qe5 then 32 ... Rf7! and Black is not much worse.

Exercise: What is the complement to Whites previous move?

Answer:
32 Qh5!
The pressure on h6 and f5 is becoming more and more uncomfortable for Black. 32 Qxa6? Qxb2
would be completely wrong.
32 ... Rd5

Exercise: How did Morphy make progress here?

Answer:
33 b3!
A modest move of crushing force. Now Black cannot move any of his pieces and once he has
exhausted his pawn moves he will be in zugzwang.
33 ... b5
164
 After 33 ... c4 34 bxc4 Ra5, White can exploit the absence of the black rook with 35 Qe2!,
threatening 36 Re7, against which there is no satisfactory defence. Or if 33 ... a5 then 34 a4 with
zugzwang.
34 Rxa6 Rd6 35 Qxf5+
The queen endgame after 35 Rxd6 cxd6 36 Qxf5+ was also winning.
35 ... Qg6 36 Qxg6+ Kxg6

37 Ra5
The most practical solution. The pawn endgame after 37 Rxd6+ cxd6 is winning too, but requires
more calculation. In contrast, Whites task now is very simple.
37 ... Rb6
This passive move isnt the most tenacious, but the more active defence 37 ... c6 fails to hold the
position either after 38 a4 bxa4 39 Rxa4, as White is effectively two pawns up.
38 g4
There is no defence against the advance of Whites connected passed pawns on the kingside.
38 ... c6 39 Kg3 h5 40 Ra7 hxg4 41 hxg4 Kf6
No better is 41 ... c4 42 bxc4 bxc4 43 Ra4 c3 44 Rc4 and wins.
42 f5 Ke5 43 Re7+ Kd6 44 f6 Rb8 45 g5 Rf8 46 Kf4 c4 47 bxc4 bxc4 48 Kf5 c3 49 Re3 1-0
And so the match ended 10-4 in Morphys favour (+9, =2, -3). I am convinced that I was vanquished by superior strength, was
Lwenthals comment on it all.

165
Chapter Five
The Journey to Paris and the Match against Harrwitz
Since it had proved impossible to arrange to a match with Staunton in London, Morphy travelled to Paris to challenge the strongest French
players.

In informal games one of his opponents was Jules Arnous de Rivire, one of the best French players from the 1850s to the 1870s.
Morphy beat him 7-1.
More testing was the match with Daniel Harrwitz, preceded by a casual game that Morphy lost through a serious blunder as early as the
tenth move. The 5th of September saw the start of their formal match, which was scheduled to last until one or other player had scored
seven wins. Harrwitz demonstrated that he was a worthy opponent by winning the first game, after a long struggle that finished in a rook
endgame.
In the second Morphy stood better but, playing in a manner that was most unusual for him in serious games, he burnt his bridges,
unjustifiably rushing a pawn break that left his structure damaged. Although another long struggle ensued, Morphy ended up with another
loss, so that Harrwitz now led 2-0.
Lets now look at the third game.

Game 23
D.Harrwitz-P.Morphy
3rd matchgame, Paris 1858
Dutch Defence [A85]

1 d4 f5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Bb4

In the fifth and seventh games of the match Morphy opted for 4 ... Be7 (see Game 25).
5 Qb3 c5 6 d5?!
Although this advance gains space and hinders ... Nc6, Whites centre loses mobility. It was better to
keep the tension with 6 Nf3 or 6 e3.
6 ... e5?!

Morphy also commits his central pawn structure prematurely. The natural 6 ... 0-0 was better.

Question: So what youre saying is that Morphy responded with an inaccuracy similar to that of his opponent. Whats the reason?

Answer: One (inadequate) explanation might be that Morphy was already planning to exchange his dark-squared bishop and then
arrange his pawns on dark squares. But it will become clear that the price is a high one. Blacks position loses flexibility and he soon suffers
from having less space.
7 e3 0-0 8 Bd3 d6 9 Nge2 h6 10 Bxf6 Qxf6 11 a3 Bxc3+
Simply retreating with 11 ... Ba5 was to be considered, but it seems that Morphy was resolved to
exchange this bishop.
12 Qxc3 Nd7 13 0-0 Qg6
Making way for the knight to come to f6. Morphy is obviously not attracted by the prospect of an
equal endgame arising from 13 ... e4 and prefers to seek active chances on the kingside, for which he
needs to retain his queen.
14 b4 b6 15 f3 h5
Consistent with 13 ... Qg6; the pawn can later be used as a battering ram. The alternative was 15 ...
166
Nf6, but Morphy doesnt want the knight to lose control of c5, in order to discourage his opponent from
playing b4xc5.
16 Bc2!

An annoying move the bishop has a good post on a4.

16 ... Bb7?!
A surprising positional error from a player of Morphys strength.

Question: Its a developing move that connects the rooks; whats dubious or bad about it?

Answer: Whites dream in various positions of the Queens Indian Defence is to play d4-d5 and neutralize the bishop on b7. Here, with
that advance already made, Black plays ... Bb7, biting on granite, as the saying goes.
For comparisons sake, after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3, the routine move 5 ... Be7?!
is considered inaccurate (5 ... d5 is usual) because White can then play 6 d5!, limiting the mobility of the
b7-bishop, and in this case Black still has his pawn on c7 and can play ... c7-c6 at an opportune moment.
Returning to our game, either 16 ... Nf6 or 16 ... h4 was preferable.
17 Ba4 Qf7 18 Bxd7?!

Question: But ... whats this? Why exchange the active bishop for the passive knight?

Answer: Youre right to ask. Harrwitz has an idea that in other circumstances might be a good one, but which is premature here: he
wants to open the b-file quickly, thinking that he will be better placed to exploit it. Naturally, he doesnt want to play 18 bxc5? at once in view
of 18 ... Nxc5.
Instead of this exchange, White could play 18 Bc6!, followed by doubling rooks on the b-file, ready to open it under more favourable
conditions. There is no hurry, because Blacks counterplay on the kingside has barely started. Meanwhile, he can hardly accept the offer to
exchange his bad bishop, as White would then gain a strong passed pawn on c6.
18 ... Qxd7
Even though Black has been left with the passive bishop, the exchanges have gone some way towards
helping him solve his problems of space and mobility.
19 bxc5?!
Consistent with his previous move, but weak. White will not manage to exploit the opening of the b-
file here. It was better to occupy the b-file with the rooks first and only open it at the most favourable
moment. It was preferable therefore to leave b-pawn alone for the time being and play 19 f4 straight
away.
19 ... bxc5 20 f4 e4
The pawns are on light squares, so Black must look for some way to activate his bishop.

Question: Why push the e-pawn at all? It is then stuck on a light square! Why not just play 20 ... Rae8, for instance?

Answer: True, the pawn structure is not so nice for the bishop, and Morphy could instead play 20 ... Rae8, as you suggest; but he didnt
want to be tied to the defence of the e-pawn, and had seen a way for his bishop to obtain some activity in any case.
21 Rab1 Ba6

167
 Here we can see another negative consequence of 19 bxc5?! the passive bishop on b7 is
transformed into an active one on a6, putting pressure on c4. But it is understandable if White was not
too worried by this attack from the lonely bishop.

Exercise: The position has evened out; although it wasnt part of his plan when he made his 18th and 19th moves, White must now think
about defence. What should he play here?

22 Rfc1?!
White is thinking only of his own plans and is not taking his opponents into consideration.

Exercise: How can Black demonstrate that Whites last move was inaccurate?

Answer:
22 ... Qa4!
This prevents Whites planned 23 Qa5 and demonstrates that the bishop on a6 is not so lonely after
all. Black is now putting pressure on the pawns at c4 and a3.
Answer: Going back to the Exercise before last, 22 Qc2! would have been better.
23 Ng3
Harrwitz improves the position of his knight, which is now heading for d2 to support the c4-pawn.
The position is no more than slightly unpleasant for White. The computer finds an admirable
defensive resource in 23 Rb3!?, when the immediate and logical 23 ... Rab8 can be answered by 24
Rxb8! Rxb8 25 Ng3 Rb3 (to be able play ... g7-g6 without allowing Qf6) 26 Qe1 g6 27 Nxh5! gxh5 28
Qh4 and Whites counterplay seems sufficient for equality after 28 ... Qd7 29 Qxh5 with two pawns for
the piece and threats of perpetual check.
23 ... h4 24 Nf1 Rab8 25 Nd2

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 Exercise: How do you think Morphy tried to make progress here?

Answer:
25 ... Rb6!
Preparing to double rooks with 26 ... Rfb8.
26 Rxb6 axb6 27 Qb3?
A bad decision in the endgame there are only two results possible. It was necessary to seek
counterplay on the kingside, trying to exploit Blacks weakened structure (as in the line beginning with
23 Rb3), here based on a timely g2-g4; for example, 27 Rb1 b5 28 g4 hxg3 29 hxg3 Rb8 30 g4 or indeed
27 g4! at once.
27 ... Qxb3 28 Nxb3 b5
The position is opening up in favour of the bishop, while the protected passed c-pawn that is now
created is far more dangerous than Whites passed a-pawn.
29 cxb5
Since all rook endings are drawn, White might try to hold the inferior position arising from 29 Nd2
bxc4 30 Nxc4 Bxc4 31 Rxc4 Rb8, but Rubinstein would no doubt have won it with Black and Morphy
too. After 32 Rc1 Rb3 33 Ra1, one way would be 33 ... Rxe3 34 a4 Rb3 35 a5 Rb7 36 a6 Ra7, planning
to bring the king to b6 while relying on the passed pawns at e4 and c5 to restrain any white counterplay;
another is 33 ... c4 34 a4 c3 35 Rc1 (forced, in view of the threat of 35 ... c2 and 36 ... Rb1) 35 ... Ra3
36 a5 Kf7 37 a6 Rxa6 38 Rxc3 Ra5.
29 ... Bxb5 30 Na5

Exercise: Black needs to combine attack with the defence of the d6-pawn. How did Morphy accomplish this?

Answer:
30 ... Ra8!
First the rook heads for a6 to defend d6, while keeping an eye on the a3-pawn; then Black intends to
bring his king to e7 to release the rook for attack.
31 Nb7
The only active way to play, but now the knight is almost trapped.
31 ... Ra6 32 Rc3 Kf8 33 Nd8 Bd7 34 Rb3 Ke7 35 Rb8

169
Exercise: Whites pieces are tied up and his monarch is unable to assist the defence. How can Black exploit the situation?

Answer:
35 ... c4!
Given the factors mentioned above, Blacks passed pawn increases in strength.
36 Kf2 c3 37 Ke2 Rxa3 38 Nc6+
38 Kd1 fails to 38 ... Ba4+ 39 Ke2 (or 39 Kc1 Ra1+, winning a piece) 39 ... c2 and the pawn queens.
38 ... Bxc6 39 dxc6 c2 40 Kd2

Exercise (easy): What is the quickest way for Black to wrap up the game?

Answer:
40 ... Rc3!
Black will emerge with two extra pawns, including one on the seventh rank.
41 Kc1 Rxc6 42 Rb3 Kf6 43 Ra3

Exercise: There are several good ways to continue; what do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer:
43 ... g5!
Opening up the kingside to be able to invade with his king.
44 g3 hxg3 45 hxg3 gxf4 46 gxf4 Kg6 47 Ra5 Rc5

170
 Morphy guarantees that his king will be able to invade Whites kingside without losing the f5-pawn.
The rest is quite simple.
48 Ra6 Rc3 49 Rxd6+ Kh5 50 Rd2 Kg4 51 Rg2+ Kf3 52 Rg5 Rc5 53 Rh5 Kxe3 54 Rh4 Kf3 0-1

Lets now look at the fourth game.

Game 24
P.Morphy-D.Harrwitz
4th matchgame, Paris 1858
Philidors Defence [C62]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Qxd4 Nc6

In the sixth game Harrwitz switched to 4 ... Nf6. In this game, as we shall see, he had other plans for
the f6-square.
5 Bb5 Bd7 6 Bxc6 Bxc6 7 Bg5

A move that seeks to create discomfort in the black position, an agent provocateur as Lasker
described it. In later years 7 Nc3 became the most popular move here.
7 ... f6?!

Question: Well, it appears that 7 Bg5 has done its job; this looks like a concession to me.

Answer: Yes, provoking the weakening 7 ... f6 is an achievement for White. But this isnt forced, nor is it the best in the position.
In the second game of the match Harrwitz opted for 7 ... Nf6 and later won the game, even though he
stood worse from the opening: 8 Nc3 (this position can also be reached via 7 Nc3 Nf6 8 Bg5) 8 ... Be7
9 0-0-0 0-0 10 Rhe1 h6 11 Bh4 Ne8?! 12 Bxe7 Qxe7, and now White is slightly better after the
prophylactic 13 Kb1 or the more active 13 g4, as suggested by Knaak. Instead, Morphy surprisingly
played the hasty 13 e5?!, allowing 13 ... Bxf3.
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 The problem with the provocative move 7 Bg5 is that it can be answered by the apparently
erroneous 7 ... Be7!, since after 8 Qxg7 Bf6 9 Qxh8 Bxh8 10 Bxd8 Bxb2 11 Bxc7 Bxa1 12 Bxd6 Bxe4,
the resulting endgame isnt advantageous to White.
8 Bh4 Nh6 9 Nc3

9 ... Qd7
In P.Morphy-H.Baucher, Paris (blindfold simul) 1858, Black opted for 9 ... Be7 see Supplementary
Game 24.1, which has various points in common.
10 0-0 Be7 11 Rad1
With this move, centralizing the rook to its most useful square, with X-ray pressure against the black queen, Whites semi-forced
moves come to end by which we mean those moves obviously need to be played and there is apparently nothing better.
11 ... 0-0 12 Qc4+
This move, on the other hand, marks the start of a concrete plan.
12 ... Rf7
A move that starts an ambitious plan of kingside expansion, which needs to be justified tactically
because of the menacing presence of the rook on d1. Yet it is difficult to agree that this is what the
position demands or, more accurately, permits. The obvious 12 ... Kh8 was better.

Exercise: Did Morphy continue with his idea behind 12 Qc4+, or is there some tactical operation that is stronger and justifies a deviation
from his plan?

Answer: No, Morphy plays consistently to exploit the trump presented to him by Blacks seventh move; i.e. the e6-square.
13 Nd4!
It was tempting to fall in with Blacks provocation and play 13 e5. Then taking the pawn loses the
exchange, and otherwise White threatens to advance it with 14 e6, so it looks strong and perhaps it is,
objectively. Nevertheless, Black can muddy the waters with 13 ... Qg4!, when White must choose
whether or not to enter an endgame either way taking on f6 or d6 gives him nothing special, and the
172
position after the advance e5-e6 is harder to evaluate, either with the exchange of queens or after
interpolating 14 Rd4 Qg6. In the latter case, the position is not clearly advantageous for White after, for
instance, 15 e6 Rff8 (threatening to take on f3 and follow up with ... c7-c6 and ... d6-d5) 16 Nd5 Bxd5
17 Rxd5 c6, again followed by ... d6-d5.
Morphy preferred the cleanest continuation.
13 ... Ng4 14 h3 Ne5 15 Qe2
Blacks knight on the rim has managed to centralize itself and even drive the opposing queen away, reducing Whites control of e6. The
knight does remain exposed to a timely f2-f4, among other ideas, but when Black played 12 ... Rf7 he already had a specific idea in mind.
15 ... g5?

Question: Is this really so bad? In several positions in the Modern Benoni this move, fortifying the knight on e5, is perfectly normal.

Answer: Yes, in general the idea is worth considering, and here there is already a hook for the advancing pawn on h3, but the cost is
too high the f5-square is seriously weakened, especially considering that White already has a knight on d4 ready to jump in.
16 Bg3 Rg7 17 Nf5
First, White plays the obvious knight move.
17 ... Rg6

Exercise: And now what? How do you think Morphy continued?

Answer:
18 f4!

Question: Is this really such a good move? I can appreciate that it opens the f-file in Whites favour, but I also see that the knight on e5
is now completely secure and Black has the use of the half-open g-file. Besides, surely White had a promising alternative in 18 Nd5 - ?

Answer: Its true that 18 Nd5! was good: after 18 ... Bxd5?! 19 Rxd5 Bf8 20 c4, White dominates the light squares and has the initiative,
while the pride and joy of Blacks position, the centralized knight, can be eliminated at an opportune moment with Bxe5, leaving White with a
strong knight against a bishop limited in scope.
The text seeks a more active game. To get squares, you have to give squares, as Fischer used to say.
In return for becoming active on the f-file White concedes certain advantages to Black, but they are very
different in value the white rook, aided by the dominating f5-knight, will be the main beneficiary of the
opening of the kingside and Blacks king will be the one that comes under fire.
18 ... gxf4 19 Rxf4 Kh8

173
 Black wants to double rooks on his half-open file.

Exercise: How did Morphy show that it is White who benefits more from the opening of the f- and g- files?

Answer:
20 Rh4!
Emphasizing the weakness of the black king. White prevents 20 ... Rag8?? as that now runs into 21
Rxh7+! Kxh7 22 Qh5+ Rh6 23 Qxh6 mate; here we see the decisive assistance rendered by the knight on
f5.
Once again 20 Nd5 was worth considering, but Morphy prefers to exploit the new elements in the
position.
20 ... Bf8

Exercise: How did Morphy make progress in this position?

Answer:
21 Bxe5!
The most active enemy piece is eliminated and Black is forced to recapture with the f-pawn, leaving
his dark-squared bishop imprisoned. 21 Nd5 was again a good alternative.
21 ... fxe5 22 Rf1 Qe6
Still trying to make use of the g-file, although the black pieces remain uncoordinated.
23 Nb5!?
An interesting move, probing the black defences. Must Black defend or can he try to go onto the
offensive?
23 ... Qg8?!
This was Blacks original idea, but its an unequal struggle after this. It was better to go back with 23
... Qd7 and challenge White to find a way to make progress. He might just retreat his knight to c3 and try
something else; if White plays 24 c4, Black would at least gain some practical chances after 24 ... Bxb5
25 cxb5 c6, aiming for ... d7-d5 when appropriate.

174
 Exercise: How did Morphy continue his offensive?

Answer:
24 Rf2!
Combining attack with prophylaxis: overprotecting g2 and maintaining the threat against the c7-pawn.
Morphy wants more than the positional advantage obtained from 24 Nxc7 Rc8 25 Nd5 Bxd5 26 exd5
Qxd5 27 c4. With the second rank defended he threatens 25 Nxc7 followed by retreating with 26 Nb5, if
there is nothing better.
24 ... a6
Naturally, ... Bxb5 would mean complete surrender of the light squares and would only be playable if
the tactics justified it for instance, if the shot ... Bc5 were available. In this case it doesnt seem to
work; e.g. after 24 ... d5 25 exd5 Bxb5 26 Qxb5 Rd8, White has 27 d6! (eschewing 27 c4?! Rb6!, when
... Bc5 is suddenly a real possibility) 27 ... Bxd6 (or 27 ... cxd6 28 Qxb7) 28 Nh6, winning material.
25 Nxc7! Rc8
The knights retreat to b5 has been prevented, but we shall soon see another important virtue of the
prophylactic 24 Rf2!.
26 Nd5 Bxd5 27 exd5 Rc7
Resigning himself to the loss of a pawn.

Exercise: How can 27 ... Qxd5? be refuted?

Answer: With 28 Rxh7+! Kxh7 29 Qh5+ Bh6 30 Ne7 (White can play this because the f2-rook prevents a check on the g1-a7 diagonal)
30 ... Qe6 31 Nxg6 Kg7 (31 ... Qxg6 loses to 32 Rf7+) 32 Nh4 with an extra pawn and the attack.
28 c4 Be7 29 Rh5 Qe8?

175
 Exercise: Black must have felt depressed at the prospect of having passively to await his execution with 29 ... Bf8, for example but
the move he chose has a clear refutation. What is it?

Answer:
30 c5!!
Whites material and dynamic superiority permits an elegant and rapid demolition of Blacks
position.
30 ... Rxc5
If 30 ... dxc5 then 31 Qxe5+ and Qxc7, while 30 ... Rd7 loses to, among other things, 31 Rxh7+ Kxh7
32 Qh5+ Kg8 33 Nh6+ Kg7 (or 33 ... Kh8 34 Rf7) 34 Rf7+ Qxf7 35 Nxf7 Kxf7 36 Qf5+, picking up a
rook.

Exercise: What was the idea behind the pawn sacrifice, luring the black rook away from c7?

Answer:
31 Rxh7+!
Now the black queen will be overloaded with the defence of both the g6-rook and e7-bishop, so
White is able to gain a decisive material advantage.
31 ... Kxh7 32 Qh5+ Kg8 33 Nxe7+ Kg7 34 Nf5+ Kg8 35 Nxd6 1-0

Supplementary Game 24.1

P.Morphy-H.Baucher
Blindfold simultaneous, Paris 1858

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Qxd4 Nc6 5 Bb5 Bd7 6 Bxc6 Bxc6 7 Bg5 f6 8 Bh4 Nh6 9 Nc3 Be7
Deviating from Harrwitzs 9 ... Qd7.
10 0-0 0-0 11 Qc4+ Kh8 12 Nd4

176
 The course of the game is similar to what weve already seen, but at this point Black has better
options.

Exercise: What should Black play?

Answer:
12 ... Qd7?!
In contrast to the main game above, in which the queen was already committed to d7, here Black
could defend the e6-square with 12 ... Bd7, as in J.Lwenthal-D.Harrwitz, London (25th matchgame)
1853, which continued 13 Rad1 c6 14 Ne6 Bxe6 15 Qxe6 Nf7 with only a slight advantage to White.
13 Rad1 Rf7?
A strange decision; its the same idea as in the main game, but in worse circumstances. It was better
to play 13 ... Rae8 or 13 ... Nf7.
14 f4
Intending f4-f5, to support the knight which will head for e6.
14 ... a5 15 f5 Rff8 16 Ne6 Rg8 17 a4
White has a free hand here. Steinitz suggested 17 Rf3 or 17 Nd5 as improvements, but the text doesnt worsen Whites position.
17 ... Ng4 18 Qe2 Ne5

Exercise: Based on what we saw in the main game above, how do you think Morphy continued here?

Answer:
19 Bg3
Just as before, preparing to eliminate the opponents best piece at the right moment.
19 ... Qc8
Black makes way for the c6-bishop to retreat to d7 and challenge the knight. He is not afraid of Bxe5,
because he plans to recapture with the d-pawn, releasing his dark-squared bishop.

Exercise: What did Morphy play now?

Answer:
20 Bxe5!
The activity of the e7-bishop will prove irrelevant. It will soon be apparent that it would have been
better to play 19 ... Nf7, planning a timely ... Nd8.
20 ... dxe5

177
 Exercise: What is the best way to exploit the strong knight outpost and the lack of coordination among Blacks pieces?

Answer:
21 Rf3!
The start of a blitzkrieg. The black king is almost unprotected and the white pieces can rush rapidly
into the attack.
21 ... Bd7?
This loses, but there was hardly anything better.
22 Rh3!
Threatening a quick mate with 23 Rxh7+ or 23 Qh5.
22 ... h6

Exercise: There are many winning moves here which is the fastest?

Answer:
23 Qd2!
Of course, with a double attack on h6 and d7.
23 ... Kh7 24 Qxd7 Bd6

White has an extra piece and a winning position, and Morphy finds the quickest finish.
25 Rxh6+! Kxh6 26 Rd3! Kh5 27 Qf7+ 1-0
It is mate in two moves; e.g. 27 ... Kh4 28 Rh3+ Kg4 29 Qg6 mate, or 27 ... g6 28 Qh7+ Kg4 29 h3
mate.

Lets now look at the fifth game of the match.

178
Game 25
D.Harrwitz-P.Morphy
5th matchgame, Paris 1858
Dutch Defence [A85]

1 d4 f5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7

This time Morphy prefers to neutralize the pin on his knight, instead of counter-pinning with 4 ... Bb4 as he previously played as Black
(see Game 23).
5 e3 0-0 6 Bd3

Question: Hmm, didnt I hear you say that its better to develop knights before bishops?

Answer: Yes, but it isnt an immutable rule. The reason is that generally the knights have very few options on their first move, whereas
the bishops have several. However, thats not the case here. Harrwitz develops his bishop first to preserve the option of developing the
knight to f3 or e2.
6 ... b6
Morphy seeks an active diagonal for his bishop, rather than developing it on d7.
Alternatively, 6 ... c5 is playable, but it only postpones the decision about the light-squared bishop. It
is hard to believe that Morphy would ever choose a Stonewall set-up with 6 ... d5.
7 Nge2
It is difficult to say whether this is preferable to 7 Nf3.
7 ... Bb7 8 0-0

8 ... Nh5

Question: This isnt a developing move and isnt typical of Morphy. How would you explain it?

Answer: Morphy prefers to reduce his space problems by exchanging dark-squared bishops before developing his last minor piece.
The alternative 8 ... Ne4?! runs into 9 Bxe4 fxe4 10 Bxe7 Qxe7 11 Ng3 and Black has problems
supporting the e4-pawn, since 11 ... d5? can be answered by 12 cxd5 exd5 13 Qb3!, threatening both
Nxd5 and Nxe4. Black would have to resort to something like 11 ... Qb4, although after 12 Ncxe4 Qxc4
13 Rc1! Qxa2 14 Rxc7, his position looks very fragile.
It wasnt advisable to play 8 ... d6? either in view of 9 Nf4 Qd7 10 d5!, highlighting the newly
created hole at e6 (here we see one of the virtues of 7 Nge2). Instead, 8 ... Nc6 is playable, but its not
obvious how to follow this up; the black pieces have little mobility and are rather uncoordinated.
Harrwitz himself was convinced that Morphys ... Nh5 manoeuvre was a good one, and in the seventh
game of the match, he opted for 8 Bxf6, as we shall see in Supplementary Game 25.1.
9 Bxe7 Qxe7 10 Ng3!?
An interesting decision; White accepts doubled g-pawns so as to be able play g3-g4 later.
10 ... Nxg3 11 hxg3 d6
Planning the mobilize the knight at last by ... Nd7-f6.
12 f4
An ambitious move, keeping both e3-e4 and g3-g4 in reserve.
179
 12 ... Nc6
Now 12 ... Nd7 would allow 13 e4, whereas the text restrains that advance. An alternative way was
12 ... c5.
13 g4
This move attracted criticism, but it doesnt appear to be a bad one.
13 ... Nb4 14 gxf5?!
This exchange, on the other hand, is definitely hasty, as it opens the e-file in Blacks favour. It was
better to retreat the bishop first, with 14 Be2 or 14 Bb1.
14 ... exf5 15 Qd2 Rae8 16 Rae1

Exercise: What should Black play here?

16 ... Qh4
A questionable decision; although Whites kingside is rather weak, Black cant exploit this, since he
doesnt have enough pieces lined up for an attack.
Answer: Instead, Black would stand well after 16 ... Nxd3! 17 Qxd3 Be4.
17 Bb1 Re6 18 Qf2!

Exercise: Why not drive the knight away with 18 a3 - ?

Answer: Because Blacks activity, while containable, deserves respect. He would have the strong reply 18 ... Bxg2! 19 Qxg2 Rg6 20
axb4 (not 20 Qxg6 hxg6 21 axb4?? Qg3+ 22 Kh1 Kf7 and mates) 20 ... Rxg2+ 21 Kxg2 Rf6 and Blacks initiative will result in a win of
material.
18 ... Qh5

Exercise: How can White restrain Blacks initiative?

180
 Answer:
19 d5!
Similarly to game three of the match, the b7-bishop is now shut out of play.
19 ... Rh6 20 Qf3 Qh4
After 20 ... Qh2+ 21 Kf2, the white king is in no danger in the centre, and White now has the
possibility of a timely Rh1.
21 a3 Na6 22 b4
Since Blacks two minor pieces have been shut out of play, the weakness of the opposing kingside
declines in importance, since White can cope with the activity of Blacks queen and rook. But this is
only a temporary advantage if either of Blacks knight or bishop becomes active the situation will
become more complicated.
22 ... Nb8 23 Ne2 Nd7
Heading for the kingside without delay. 23 ... c5, controlling d4, was also worth considering.
24 Ng3?!
This isnt the best square for the knight. It was possible to play 24 Nd4 g6 25 Ne6, but after 25 ...
Rc8, followed by 26 ... Nf6, or even 26 ... b5 or 26 ... c6, the knight finds itself rather isolated on e6.
It seems better to solidify the kingside first with 24 Qg3!. The exchange of queens would leave Black
without any play, but after 24 ... Qh5 25 Nd4 Rg6 26 Qf3 Rg4 27 Kf2!, White has the superior position,
since his pieces are placed harmoniously, which cannot be said of Blacks forces.
24 ... g6 25 Kf2 Nf6 26 Rh1
This was Whites idea, aiming to exchange rooks and thus eliminate almost all the danger to his king.
26 ... Ng4+ 27 Kg1 Qf6 28 Rxh6 Nxh6 29 Qd1

29 ... Ng4
Morphy didnt want to abandon the idea of attacking until it became inevitable. Thus he rejected 29 ...
Qc3 or 29 ... Qb2, which would almost force White to play 30 Qc1. Then 30 ... Qxc1 31 Rxc1 Ng4
leads to an ending which is slightly better for Black: 32 e4 isnt possible because the f4-pawn falls,
while after 32 Re1, its possible to try to activate the passive b7-bishop with 32 ... b5.
30 Qd2 Qh4
Black pursues the dream of attack. Another possibility was 30 ... Bc8, planning to recycle his bishop
via d7.
31 Nf1 Re8 32 g3 Qh3
The queen fails to achieve anything positive on this menacing-looking square, since it isnt possible
to bring more pieces to its support. Its therefore logical to recommend 32 ... Qf6 instead.
33 b5?!
White wants to prevent ... b6-b5 forever, but misses the opportunity to play 33 e4! advantageously,
exploiting the absence of the black queen from the centre and queenside.
33 ... Nf6
Black retreats the knight to hinder e3-e4, accepting that the chances of a successful kingside attack are
minimal.
181
 34 Qg2 Qxg2+
Morphy had a plan prepared for the exchange of queens. Besides, it was no longer appropriate to
keep the queens on, because White would be able to prepare e3-e4 under favourable conditions again.
35 Kxg2

Exercise: What did Morphy have planned here?

Answer:
35 ... a6!
Preparing to open the a-file as an invasion route at an opportune moment.
36 a4 axb5
A debatable move.

Question: What? Wasnt this the idea behind 35 ... a6 - ?

Answer: Indeed it was. The point is that the opening of the a-file couldnt be prevented (b5xa6 by White would damage his structure), so
Black could first improve the position of his pieces, ready to open the a-file under better conditions.
One idea was 36 ... Nd7, followed by ... Nc5, ... Ra8, and soon after take on b5. The plan should also
include improving the passive bishop before opening the a-file. As we shall see, 36 ... Kf7 would be
another useful move.
37 axb5 Ra8 38 Nd2 Ra3
The position is balanced; Blacks rook is the more active, but White is able to cope with this and his
space advantage is an important factor, as we shall see.
39 e4
White eliminates the weakness on e3 and opens the e-file in his favour. On the other hand, the black
bishop can now view the future with greater optimism.
39 ... fxe4 40 Nxe4 Nxe4 41 Bxe4
The white bishop has also gained in activity. 41 Rxe4 would be less convincing, as after 41 ... Kf7,
controlling the rooks entry point, Black could play ... Bc8 with a slightly more pleasant position.
41 ... Rc3
Black could have interpolated 41 ... Kf7, taking prophylaxis against any invasion of the white rook on
the e-file, but he would have no advantage after 42 Bf3 h5 (to prevent g3-g4) 43 f5!.

182
 Exercise (easy): How best to defend the c4-pawn?

Answer:
42 Bf3!
Indirectly, with the threat of 43 Re8+ and 44 Rb8.
42 ... Kf7 43 Re4
Here 43 Be2! was more precise, so that, after 43 ... Bc8, he can keep the black bishop becoming
active by playing 44 g4. If Black tries to prevent this in turn with 43 ... h5?, then 44 Ra1! is awkward to
meet.
43 ... Bc8

Exercise: How should White complete his defensive manoeuvre?

Answer:
44 Be2?
A surprising error why allow the black bishop to become active? After 44 g4!, Black would find it
much harder to make progress. He could try 44 ... h5!?, but then 45 gxh5 Bf5 46 Re2 (better than 46
hxg6+ Kxg6 47 Rd4 Rd3!) 46 ... Rxc4 47 Kg3 (intending 48 h6) 47 ... Kg7 48 Re7+ Kh6 49 Bg4! looks
quite drawish; e.g. 49 ... Bxg4 50 Kxg4 gxh5+ 51 Kf5.
44 ... Bf5
Morphy has finally gained the advantage.
45 Rd4

Exercise (easy): How did Morphy improve his position further?

183
 Answer:
45 ... h5!
Securing the position of his bishop and preparing to open the kingside with ... h5-h4 at the right
moment.
46 Kf2 Kf6 47 Rd2

Exercise: What did Morphy play now?

Answer:
47 ... Bc2!
It is not only necessary to think about your own plans, you also need to hinder those of the opponent.
This move prevents 48 Ra2 and clears the f5-square for Blacks king.
48 Ke1
After 48 Rd4, Black would have played 48 ... Kf5.
48 ... Be4
Not now 48 ... Kf5?? due to 49 Rxc2!; but 48 ... Bb3 was also strong.
49 Kf2 Kf5 50 Ra2

Exercise: How did Morphy take a decisive step forward here?

Answer:
50 ... h4!
Black forces an entrance for his king to make the decisive invasion.
51 gxh4 Kxf4 52 Ra7
Going round the back with 52 Ra8 was equally hopeless; for example, 52 ... Rh3 53 Rf8+ Bf5 54 Bf1
Rxh4 and White cant even pick off the c7-pawn, since 55 Rf7 Rh2+ 56 Bg2 g5 (with intending 57 ...
Rh7) 57 Rxc7 loses to 57 ... Be4.

184
 Exercise (easy): What is the quickest way to win?

Answer:
52 ... Rh3
This not only wins the h4-pawn (making the black g-pawn passed), it also corrals the Whites king,
which means he again has no time to take on c7, as we quickly see.
53 Rxc7? Rh2+ 54 Ke1 Ke3 0-1
Since if 55 Bf1 then 55 ... Ra2 forces mate.

Supplementary Game 25.1

D.Harrwitz-P.Morphy
7th matchgame, Paris 1858

1 d4 f5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 0-0 6 Bd3 b6 7 Nge2 Bb7 8 Bxf6

This time Harrwitz prefers to eliminate the black knight, instead of exchanging bishops after 8 ... Nh5,
as we saw in the previous game.
8 ... Bxf6 9 0-0 Qe7 10 Qd2 d6 11 f4

Echoes of the previous game; Harrwitz wants to play e3-e4. The immediate 11 e4 wasnt convincing
in view of 11 ... f4!.
11 ... c5!
This prevents 12 e4 and is a reminder that, following the exchange with 8 Bxf6, Black is the one
better equipped to dominate the dark squares.
12 d5 Na6 13 dxe6 Qxe6 14 Rae1 Bh4
Seeking to provoke a weakness with 15 g3 or else pin the knight after Ng3. But given that Whites 12
d5 has opened the long diagonal, it was possibly better to leave the bishop on f6 and play 14 ... Nb4 15
Bb1 Rae8, when the black pieces are ideally placed;
185
note that 16 a3 Nc6 17 Nd5? would be a mistake,
on account of 17 ... Na5!.
15 Ng3 Qg6?!
Once again 15 ... Nb4 16 Bb1 was interesting and now, for instance, 16 ... Rad8 17 a3 Nc6 18 Nd5
Ne7 with a good position.

Exercise: There is a snag with Blacks last move what is it?

16 Nd5?
This isnt it.
Answer: The problem with Morphys move was that White could have played 16 e4!. Then after, for example, 16 ... Bxg3 17 hxg3 Qxg3
18 exf5 Nb4 19 Bb1, intending Re7, the white pieces are suddenly ideally placed. Lets look further: 19 ... Rae8 20 a3 Rxe1 21 Rxe1 Nc6
(21 ... Bxg2 loses piece to 22 Qf2!) 22 Ne4, when the d6-pawn is lost and the black position collapses.
16 ... Bxd5! 17 cxd5
Now weve reached a sort of Benoni position, and one in which Black has nothing to complain about.
17 ... Bxg3 18 hxg3 Nc7
The knight could have reached a more central post after the pawn sacrifice 18 ... c4!? 19 Bxc4 Nc5, when it is evidently more active,
controlling e4, but Morphy didnt believe it was necessary.
19 Kf2
This move is also reminiscent of the main game. White hopes to create counterplay on the h-file.
19 ... Rae8 20 Rh1 Re7 21 Rh4 Qf7 22 Be2
The alternative was the immediate 22 g4, with complex play after 22 ... Qxd5 23 Qc2 b5.

Exercise: How did Morphy improve his position?

Answer:
22 ... Ne8!
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 The knight goes to f6, from where it attacks the vital squares g4, e4 and d5.
23 Qd3 Nf6 24 Bf3 g6 25 Re2?! Rfe8
Methodical play, putting maximum pressure on the weakness at e3 before taking any other measures. Lwenthal suggestion of 25 ... g5!
26 fxg5 Ne4+ 27 Kg1 Nxg3 28 Re1 Qg7 was also good, or if 28 Rc2 then 28 ... Qe8 with strong pressure.
26 b3 Qg7
Once again 26 ... g5! was possible.
27 Rh1

Exercise: Now that the black queen has left the f-file it appears that ... g6-g5 is no longer on Morphys agenda or is it? What did he
play in this position?

Answer:
27 ... h6!
Yes, ... g6-g5 is still the plan, but he wants to keep his pawns together.
28 Kg1 g5
The total triumph of Blacks strategy Whites counterplay on the h-file has vanished and all the
black pieces are active.
29 fxg5 hxg5 30 Bh5
Here the simple 30 ... Rf8 is possible with a big advantage, but Morphy demonstrated that it wasnt
the only move.

Exercise: What did he play?

Answer:
30 ... Ne4!
Activating his knight and attacking the g3-pawn, while 31 Bxe8? Qa1+ leads to mate.
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 31 Re1 Rf8
And the g3-pawn is indefensible. Black has a winning position.
32 Bf3 Nxg3 33 Rh3 Qe5 34 Rh6 g4 35 Bd1 Kg7 36 Rh4

Exercise: There are several good moves here what do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer:
36 ... Rh8!
Now that the h-file is open, Black exchanges the white defender in order to gain control of the file.
37 Rxh8 Kxh8 38 Bc2 Rh7 39 Qd2 Qb2
One of various ways to win; the text threatens 40 ... Rh1+ 41 Kf2 Ne4+.
40 Rd1 Rh1+ 41 Kf2

41 ... Rf1+??
A surprising blunder; Black sees a phantom mate. He could have played 41 ... Rxd1 42 Qxd1 Ne4+
43 Kg1 and now there many good moves; for instance, 43 ... Qc3 (but not 43 ... Nc3? 44 Qe1 and White
threatens perpetual check) 44 Bd3 Kg7 45 Kf1 Qe5 with a technical win Black is a pawn up and in
total control of the position.
42 Kxg3
Not 42 Rxf1?? Ne4+.
42 ... Qe5+ 43 Kh4 Qf6+
Lwenthal suggested that Morphy might, in his calculations at move 41, have overlooked that after 43
... Kg7 44 Rxf1 Qh2+ 45 Kg5 Qh6+, the pawn on f5 is no longer defended, so there is no mate and
White can play 46 Kxf5 which wins.
44 Kg3 Qe5+ -
By winning the fifth, Morphy took a 3-2 lead in the match. Lets see the sixth game.

Game 26
P.Morphy-D.Harrwitz
6th matchgame, Paris 1858
Philidors Defence [C41]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Qxd4 Nf6

Varying from 4 ... Nc6, as he played in the fourth game of the match (see Game 24) and which was
answered by 5 Bb5. In Supplementary Game 26.1, we shall take a brief look at an example where Black
pre-empted the Bb5 pin by playing 4 ... Bd7 first.
5 e5

188
 Question: How unusual! Its not very often that we see Morphy exchanging queens when there are good alternatives available,
particularly so early in the game.

Answer: Youre right, it is surprising, but it appears that Morphy considered that the resulting endgame offered chances to outplay his
opponent.
5 ... dxe5
Steinitz criticized this exchange and suggested 5 ... Qe7 instead, mentioning 6 Be3 (as had been
played in D.Harrwitz-J.Lwenthal, 18th matchgame, London 1853), after which 6 ... Ng4 7 exd6 Qxd6
was correct.
Many years later, in V.Jansa-E.Ermenkov, Prague 1985, White found an improvement in 6 Be2 dxe5 7
Nxe5 Nbd7 8 Nd3!, when continuing to develop with 8 ... g6 didnt appeal to Black, probably in view
of 9 0-0 (rather than 9 Bf4, which can be met by 9 ... c5!) 9 ... Bg7 10 Re1; so he went for the endgame
with 8 ... Qe4, but White achieved a much more pleasant position after 9 Qxe4+ Nxe4 10 0-0 Bd6 11
Bf3 Nec5 12 Re1+ Kd8 13 Nxc5 Nxc5 14 Na3!, heading for b5 or c4.
6 Qxd8+ Kxd8 7 Nxe5 Be6 8 Nc3 Bd6?!
Black doesnt seem to attach any importance to the bishop pair. This move almost forces the retreat of
the knight to c4, where it threatens to create a weakness on d6. Simply 8 ... Nbd7 was sounder.

9 Nc4 Bxc4
Having played 8 ... Bd6, Black is logically reluctant to spend another tempo playing 9 ... Bb4; e.g. 10
Bd2 Nbd7 11 0-0-0 and Whites game is more harmonious but this is objectively better than giving up
the light-squared bishop voluntarily.
10 Bxc4 Re8+ 11 Be3 Ke7
Black could exchange the bishop on e3 by playing 11 ... Ng4 12 0-0-0! Nxe3 13 fxe3, but he would
remain slightly worse as he is quite a bit behind in 189
development. For example, after 13 ... Rxe3 14 Bxf7
Nd7 15 Rhf1, the inactive rook on a8 is a problem and 15 ... Bxh2? is bad on account of 16 Nd5 Re4 17
Rh1 Rh4 18 Rhe1 and wins.
12 0-0-0 a6
Black is forced to waste another move before retreating, since if 12 ... Kf8?! then 13 Nb5.

Exercise: How did Morphy continue?

Answer:
13 Bg5!
White had two pleasant options. Morphy wanted more than he could obtain from 13 Nd5+ Nxd5 14
Bxd5, when Black has to acquiesce to the sad 14 ... Nc6 with advantage to White, who might play 15 c3,
maintaining Bxc6 as a threat.
13 ... Nbd7 14 Ne4 h6
With the king in the centre it isnt advisable to embark on tactical complications, such as 14 ... Be5
15 f4! Bxf4+ 16 Bxf4 Nxe4 17 Rhe1 f5 and now 18 Bd5 or 18 g4, when Blacks position collapses.

Exercise: Once again there are two attractive options what do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer:
15 Bxf6+
Morphy chooses the cleanest way to a clear advantage, in the style of Capablanca, clearing all the
dead wood from the position. He prefers to simplify and give up one of his bishops than preserve the
bishop pair with 15 Nxd6 cxd6 16 Bh4, which is favourable too.
15 ... Nxf6 16 Nxd6 cxd6

190
 Exercise: There now follows a series of moves, after which the advantage Morphy has foreseen will become apparent. How did he
begin?

Answer:
17 Rhe1+
First, he continues to simplify. The black king is forced to leave the centre, since f7 must be
defended.
17 ... Kf8 18 Rxe8+! Nxe8

Exercise: The knight has also been driven to a passive position in order to defend the d6-pawn. How did Morphy continue now?

Answer:
19 Bd5!
Forcing the black rook into passive defence of the b7-pawn.
19 ... Rb8 20 Bf3!
Black must lose at least two tempi to remove the pressure on d6 and b7, and the superiority of
Whites rook and bishop over Blacks rook and knight is obvious. Furthermore White has only two
pawn islands to Blacks three.
20 ... g6

Exercise: Although White has the advantage, there is no immediate way to convert this. How can he make further progress?

Answer:
21 c3!
The moment has arrived to bring into play the only white piece which isnt superior to its black counterpart the king.
21 ... Ke7 22 Re1+!
Whenever possible, Morphy never wastes an opportunity to worsen the position of the opponents
pieces. Now if 22 ... Kd7?!, White replies 23 Bd5, when Black would need to be very brave to play 23
... f6 (23 ... f5? loses the pawn after 24 Bf7 g5 25 Be6+) 24 Be6+ Ke7 (otherwise 25 Bf7 wins a pawn)
25 f4 etc.
22 ... Kf8 23 Kc2 Nc7 24 Kb3
Another possibility was to preface this with 24 b4.
24 ... Ne6 25 Ka4 b6
Here 25 ... Nc5+ would have slowed down Whites progress, without really changing the situation;
e.g. after 26 Ka3 b6 27 Rd1 Ke7 28 b4.
26 b4 h5 27 h4 Ke7 28 Re3!
The rook seeks activity along the only rank available, the third, where in addition to overprotecting
the c3-pawn it can consider going to f3, tying Black down.
28 ... Kd7 29 Bd5 Re8 30 Kb3 Rg8 31 Rf3 Ke7 32 a4 a5?!

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 33 Bxe6!?

Question: A surprising exchange! Its a pity to give up this bishop, isnt it?

Answer: Yes, Harrwitz was probably just as surprised as you (and me). His last move weakened his queenside, but he had calculated
that it wasnt possible to exploit this immediately with 33 Kc4 Rc8+ 34 Kb5?! on account of 34 ... Nc7+ 35 Kc6 Nxd5+ 36 Kxd5 axb4 37
cxb4 Rc2 with good counterplay. So Morphy gave up his powerful bishop for the knight in order to be able to activate his king.
However, it isnt clear that this was best. Morphy could have continued to manoeuvre with, say, 33
Re3, followed by g2-g3, retaining the advantage, albeit with a long struggle in prospect.
33 ... Kxe6?
Now Whites plan triumphs. Recapturing with 33 ... fxe6! was better, and although White still has the
advantage, there is no clear win. After 34 Kc4, it would be unwise for Black to start a race with 34 ...
g5? 35 Kb5 gxh4 36 Kxb6 axb4 37 cxb4 Rb8+ 38 Ka5 Ra8+ 39 Kb5 Rb8+ 40 Kc4, since Whites
connected passed pawns are too strong. Instead, he should activate his king with 34 ... d5+! 35 Kb5
Kd6!, when 36 Kxb6 axb4 37 cxb4 Rb8+ gives White no advantage, while after 36 Rf7 axb4! 37 axb4
Rc8! 38 Kxb6 d4, the active rook is of little help to White, and Blacks d-pawn is also dangerous; e.g.
39 b5 d3 40 Rf3 Rc3!.
After the text, the black king is tied to the defence of f7 for the moment and is unable to become as
active.
34 Kc4 g5 35 Kb5! axb4 36 cxb4 gxh4 37 Kxb6 Rb8+ 38 Ka5 Kd5

Black is able to hinder the advance of Whites queenside pawns, but he has already had to give up the
b6-pawn and his own passed d-pawn presents no danger here; in fact it will soon be surrendered to the
enemy.
39 Rd3+!
The advance 39 b5 was also effective.
39 ... Kc4 40 Rxd6 Rxb4 41 Rd4+! 192
 41 Rb6 was equally decisive; in either event the queening race is too favourable for White.
41 ... Kxd4 42 Kxb4 f5 43 f4
Another way was 43 a5 f4 44 a6 (or just 44 f3) 44 ... f3 45 gxf3 h3 46 a7 h2 47 a8Q and wins, since
if 47 ... h1Q then 48 Qe4 mate.
43 ... Ke3 44 a5 Kf2 45 a6 Kxg2 46 a7 h3 47 a8Q+ Kg1 48 Qf3 1-0
The extra black h-pawn prevents stalemate after 48 ... h2 49 Qg3+ Kh1 50 Qf2! and 51 Qf1 mate.

Supplementary Game 26.1

P.Morphy-J.Lwenthal
8th matchgame, London 1858

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Qxd4 Bd7

Instead, P.Morphy-A.Mongredien, Paris (8th matchgame) 1859, saw 4 ... a6 5 Bg5 f6?!.

This is inferior but is harder to exploit than it might appear. After 6 Be3 Be6 7 Nc3 Ne7 8 Be2 Nec6!
(planning to develop the other knight to d7) 9 Qd2 Be7 10 0-0 0-0 11 Rad1 Nd7, Whites advantage was
only slight. Morphy decided to exchange a pair of knights with 12 Nd4 Nxd4 13 Bxd4, and now instead
of waiting with 13 ... Re8 or 13 ... c6, say, Mongredien took the unjustified risk of opening lines against
his own king with 13 ... f5?. Play continued 14 exf5 Bxf5 15 Bc4+ Kh8 16 Nd5 Nf6 17 Nxe7 (17 Qg5!
looks more testing) 17 ... Qxe7 18 Rfe1 Qd7 19 Qg5 h6 20 Qh4 Rae8 21 c3 and having defended quite
well up to this point, Black suddenly blundered with 21 ... Re4?? 22 Rxe4 Nxe4 (22 ... Bxe4 23 Bxf6
wins a piece) 23 Qxh6+, when White won quickly.
5 Be3
As we shall see, 5 Bf4, to control e5, makes sense here; 5 Bg5 has also frequently been played.
5 ... Nf6
Morphy also had this position with Black. A casual game S.Boden-P.Morphy, London 1858, saw 5 ...
Nc6 6 Qd2 Nf6 7 Bd3 Be7 8 Nc3 0-0 9 0-0 h6 (9 ... Ne5 has been suggested, exchanging a piece to
relieve Blacks cramped position) 10 h3 Nh7 11 g4 h5 12 Nh2 hxg4 13 hxg4 Ne5 14 f3 g5 15 Kg2 and
here, after a series of already risky moves, Morphy committed a glaring error, playing 15 ... c5? (instead
of 15 ... c6), after which Blacks light-squares were a permanent problem (even if it was a blunder in
the ending that eventually cost him the game). This was Morphys only defeat against Samuel Boden in
eleven games; four others were drawn, and Morphy won all the rest.
6 Nc3 Be7 7 Bc4 Nc6 8 Qd2 Ne5
Both here, and in Morphys game as Black above, we can appreciate the value of the suggestion 5
Bf4.
9 Nxe5 dxe5 10 0-0 0-0

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 White has a slight edge here; his rooks can deploy first on the open central file (e.g. with 11 f3,
followed by Rad1), but Morphy was not satisfied with this and decided to sharpen the struggle.
11 f4!?
Morphy consents to having the inferior structure after ... e5xf4, in return for open lines and the chance
of greater piece activity.
11 ... Bd6
Lwenthal declines the challenge, preferring to maintain his hold on the e5-square before focusing on
the weakness of Whites e4-pawn.
12 f5
Morphy has not managed to open the position but has gained some space instead.
12 ... Bc6 13 Qe2! h6
Not 13 ... Nxe4? which loses to 14 Nxe4 Bxe4 15 Qg4 Bc6 16 f6 g6 17 Qh4 etc. The alternative
capture 13 ... Bxe4 also fails to inspire confidence; one violent possibility is 14 g4 Bc6 15 g5 Nd7 16
Qh5 with ample compensation for the pawn.
14 Rad1 Qe7
Now after 14 ... Bxe4 15 Nxe4 Nxe4, White has 16 Bxh6, among other things.
15 Bd5!
Morphy seeks to exploit the new situation and threatens double Blacks pawns.
15 ... Bxd5?!
This keeps Blacks pawn structure intact, but it isnt really a solution. Black acquiesces to being left
with his bad bishop, which, combined with superior development and a space advantage, gives White
the advantage.
16 Nxd5 Nxd5 17 Rxd5 f6?!

18 Qg4?
Morphy himself considered this move to be premature, as the threat of 19 Bxh6 can easily be parried.
194
He suggested 18 Kh1 instead; and 18 Rfd1 Rad8 19 Qd3, followed by c2-c4, looks strong too.
18 ... c6! 19 Rd3 Bc5!
With the exchange of bishops, Black solves his problems.
20 Qg3 Rad8 21 Rfd1 Rxd3 22 Rxd3 Rd8! 23 Bxc5
Contrary to appearances, Black is able to challenge for the d-file, since 23 Rxd8+? Qxd8 24 Bxc5
fails to 24 ... Qd1+ 25 Kf2 Qxc2+ etc.
23 ... Qxc5+ 24 Qf2 Qxf2+ 25 Kxf2 Rxd3 26 cxd3

The endgame is equal. Morphy continued to play for a win, but without breaking Lwenthals
resistance; in the end it was Morphy who made the decisive error (51 Kg1??) and resigned eight moves
later.
We left the match against Daniel Harrwitz with the score standing at 4-2 to Morphy, having seen in Supplementary Game 25.1 how
Morphy let a win slip through his fingers in the seventh game of the match. In the eighth Morphy won almost without a struggle after
Harrwitz played an inferior opening; this game will be quoted in the notes to Game 27 below.
So the score was now 5-2 to Morphy. The winner was supposed to be the first player to score seven wins, but at this stage Harrwitz
reported that he was unwell and considered the match to be over. Apart from the first two games, Morphys superiority had been absolute.

Morphy now sought fresh challenges and invited Adolf Anderssen to travel from Breslau to Paris for a match. Anderssen accepted, but
told Morphy that his teaching duties prevented him from arriving before the Christmas holidays, three months away.
Morphy was prepared to wait and meanwhile gave simultaneous displays, some conducted blindfold, and played informal games against
Arnous de Rivire and Saint-Amant.
His most famous game during that waiting period is the one played at the Paris Opera.

Game 27
P.Morphy-Duke Karl of Brunswick & Count Isouard
Paris 1858
Philidors Defence [C41]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Bg4?

195
 Nowadays every schoolboy knows that this is bad, but in those days it was even played by
Harrwitz!, commented Kasparov.
Fischer wrote: Later Steinitz said you shouldnt move out your bishops before you bring out your knights, a very good rule for
beginners. This is because the bishops generally have more options than the knights.
Based on that rule, 3 ... Nf6 is effectively the main line, while 3 ... Nd7 is also possible, and even 3
... exd4 is better than the move in the game.

Exercise: How can White show that Blacks last move is inaccurate?

Answer:
4 dxe5
Now to avoid losing a pawn, Black is forced to exchange his bishop, which is his only developed
piece, leaving him behind in development already.
4 ... Bxf3 5 Qxf3!?

Question: What? You mark this move only as !?. You cant seriously be considering taking on f3 with the pawn, accepting doubled
pawns, not when Qxf3 is available, surely?

Answer: I understand your surprise, but matters are actually not so clear in this case. The first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz,
suggested 5 gxf3, based on the fact that, after 5 ... dxe5 6 Qxd8+ Kxd8, White has 7 f4 and the resulting endgame is better for White, thanks
to his bishop pair and with the position opening up. In support of his assessment he gave this sample line (not forced): 7 ... Nf6? 8 fxe5 Nxe4
9 Bg2 Nc5 10 b4, followed by 11 Bxb7 and wins.
5 ... dxe5 6 Bc4 Nf6?
This is a blunder, overlooking Whites strong reply. It was better to defend f7 with the queen, but this has its drawbacks too. For instance,
6 ... Qd7 leaves the queen on the open d-file, so White can play simply 7 0-0, or else 7 Qb3!?, followed by Nc3; either way a rook will soon
land on d1 with a clear advantage. Note in the latter line that an attempt to disrupt Whites smooth development with 7 ... c6 8 Nc3 b5 would
be met by 9 Nxb5! cxb5 10 Bxb5 Nc6 11 Be3, when White has very strong play for the piece, with ideas of Rd1-d3-c3.
When Fischer gave a simul in 1970 in Sarajevo, two of his games saw 6 ... Qf6 7 Qb3 b6 8 Nc3.

Here 8 ... Ne7? loses to 9 Nb5 Na6 10 Qa4 Nc5 11 Nd6+! Kd8 12 Qe8 mate which, as Kasparov
noted, was pointed out long ago in Grecos treatise! Fischers opponents naturally preferred 8 ... c6,
controlling d5.

Exercise: How do you think Fischer continued in both games?

Answer: There are several ways forward; one possibility is 9 Nd5! exd5 (or 9 ... Qd8 10 Nxb6) 10 Bb5+! Nc6 11 Bg5! Qg6 12 exd5
etc. Fischer opted instead for 9 Bg5!, based on the variation 9 ... Qxg5 10 Bxf7+ and 11 Bxg8, with an extra pawn and a winning position.
His opponents both replied with 9 ... Qg6, and after 10 Rd1 (10 0-0-0 isnt playable, because the bishop can then be captured with
check) 10 ... Be7 (if 10 ... Nd7, Whites superior development permits the combination 11 Bxf7+! Qxf7 12 Qxf7+ Kxf7 13 Rxd7+, again
with an extra pawn and a winning endgame; and 11 Nb5! cxb5 12 Bxb5 looks even stronger) 11 Bxe7 Nxe7.

196
 Exercise: How can Whites dynamic advantage be highlighted this time?

Answer: By the combination 12 Bxf7+! Qxf7 13 Rd8+ Kxd8 14 Qxf7 and wins.

Exercise (easy): What was the strong move that Black had overlooked?

Answer:
7 Qb3
With a double attack on f7 and b7. Blacks position is already on the edge of collapse.
7 ... Qe7
Seeing that 7 ... Qd7 8 Qxb7 wins easily, Black seeks some relief by exchanging queens with ...
Qb4+.
In the eighth game of the Morphy-Harrwitz match, Paris 1858, Black played 7 ... Bd6, resigning
himself to allowing 8 Bxf7+, which prevented a miniature but not his ultimate defeat.

Exercise: There are several attractive continuations here. What do you think Morphy selected?

Answer:
8 Nc3
The house speciality, development before anything else.
As we mentioned, Black was intending 8 Qxb7 Qb4+ etc, which of course isnt bad for White, who is
just a pawn up.
Another option is to throw in 8 Bxf7+, when 8 ... Kd8? 9 Qxb7 Qb4+ 10 Qxb4 Bxb4+ 11 c3 reaches
the same endgame with White now two pawns up, while 8 ... Qxf7 9 Qxb7 wins the exchange except
197
that 9 ... Bc5! makes things quite messy here; for example, 10 Qc8+ (10 Qxa8?! is worse after 10 ... 0-0,
intending ... c7-c6 and ... Qc7 or ... Ng4) 10 ... Ke7 11 Qxh8 Bxf2+! etc. White may still be winning but,
from the practical point of view, its hardly worth choosing this continuation over the others. As Lasker
wrote about 8 Bxf7+: That would have been a butchers method, not an artists.
8 ... c6 9 Bg5
Now Black is in a zugzwang position here. He cant develop his [b8] knight because his pawn [on
b7] is hanging, the bishop is blocked by the queen, commented Fischer.
9 ... b5?
Too optimistic; Blacks lag in development doesnt permit such a weakening move.
However, it was no better to play 9 ... Na6 10 Bxa6 bxa6 11 Qc4, nor 9 ... h6 10 Bxf6 gxf6 11 0-0-0;
in both cases Whites moves are simple all he has to do is keep developing.
Steinitzs suggestion of 9 ... Qc7 doesnt help either as, after 10 0-0-0,

Black has nothing better than 10 ... b5 anyway, which leads to an inferior position; e.g. 11 Bxf6 gxf6
(not 11 ... bxc4? due to 12 Qb7!! and wins) 12 Nd5! Bh6+ 13 Kb1 cxd5 14 Bxb5+ Kf8 and now either
15 Qxd5 or 15 Rxd5!? gives White a big advantage.

Exercise: If Black tries 10 ... Bc5 in this line, what would be the refutation?

Answer: White has the same tactic as in Fischers simultaneous games: 11 Bxf7+! Qxf7 12 Rd8+ and wins.

Exercise: What did Morphy play here?

Answer:
10 Nxb5!
Whites lead in development permits and even demands sacrifices. In contrast, the passive 10 Be2?
198
allows Black to get back on his feet with 10 ... Qb4! again.
10 ... cxb5 11 Bxb5+ Nbd7
White can answer 11 ... Kd8 with simply 12 0-0-0+, followed by Rd3, or else 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Qd5+
Kc8 14 0-0-0! (much better than 14 Qxa8 Qb4+).
12 0-0-0
With the simple threat of 13 Bxf6, followed by taking on d7, or indeed 13 Bxd7+ straight away,
exploiting the fact that both black knights are pinned.
12 ... Rd8
Unfortunately, 12 ... 0-0-0 loses to 13 Ba6+ and Qb7 mate.

Exercise: How did Morphy increase his dynamic advantage?

Answer:
13 Rxd7!
Preparing to bring the only missing piece into play, the kings rook, and already planning the final
combination.
Morphys handling of the final stage of this game attracted nothing but praise:
White lands successive blows, and each time with gain of tempo. (Euwe)
Morphy is in his element. The brilliant combination with sacrifices makes this game one of the most
beautiful achievements in the entire history of chess. (Marczy)
13 ... Rxd7 14 Rd1 Qe6
There is no time for 14 ... Qb4? in view of 15 Bxf6, threatening 16 Bxd7 mate.

Exercise: Out of several winning continuations, what do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer:
15 Bxd7+!
Morphy was looking for a brilliancy. 15 Qxe6+ fxe6 16 Bxf6 is an easy winning ending. (Fischer)
15 Bxf6 was a drier alternative (Kasparov).
15 ... Nxd7

199
 Exercise: What was the key to Morphys idea?

Answer:
16 Qb8+!!
Do you recall the move 12 Qb7!! in the note to Blacks ninth move?
16 ... Nxb8 17 Rd8 mate
A sparkling finish! (Euwe)

200
Chapter Six
The Match Against Anderssen
December arrived at last, and with it the match against Anderssen. This contest between the two best players of the time was also to be
decided by the first player to score seven wins.

The first game was played on the 20th of December 1858. Just as in his two previous serious matches, against Lwenthal and Harrwitz,
Morphy began with a defeat.
The second game ended in a draw, as we shall see in Supplementary Game 29.1. Once again the match had not begun well for Morphy,
but just as in the previous two matches, once Morphy started to win games he was unstoppable. He won no less than five games running,
including several of high quality.
Lets look at game three of the match.

Game 28
P.Morphy-A.Anderssen
3rd matchgame, Paris 1858
Ruy Lopez [C65]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 4 d4

This is one of only two recorded games where Morphy faced the Berlin Defence, which has been all
the rage since the year 2000, following its successful use by Kramnik in his World Championship match
against Kasparov in London. The main debate has focused on the variation 4 0-0 Nxe4 5 d4 Nd6 6 Bxc6
dxc6 7 dxe5 Nf5 8 Qxd8+ Kxd8, reaching the Berlin Endgame, which is so complex that Kasparov
described it as a queenless middlegame.
4 ... Nxd4
This reply has found few followers; 4 ... exd4 is normal.
5 Nxd4 exd4

Exercise: How did Morphy meet Anderssens idea?

Answer:
6 e5
This advance creates more problems than the quiet 6 Qxd4. Nearly a century and a half later the
zwischenzug 5 ... c6 was tried a few times, the point being that after 6 Bc4 exd4 7 Qxd4 Qb6, Black has
avoided Morphys e4-e5 idea, since 7 e5? would fail to 7 ... Qa5+ followed by 8 ... Qxe5.
6 ... c6 7 0-0

Question: There are several options here; why did Morphy choose this move?

Answer: It cant be said that this was a strange choice for Morphy, since it speeds up his development and brings his king to safety,
which is something that Black cannot imitate easily.
Alternatively, 7 Qxd4 was playable, when its advisable for Black to play 7 ... Nd5 rather than enter
an inferior endgame after 7 ... cxb5?! 8 exf6 Qxf6 9201Qxf6 gxf6 10 Nc3, as the extra black pawn does not
compensate for his horrible structure.
On the other hand, 7 exf6 Qa5+! is less convincing and provides some justification for preferring 7 0-
0.
7 ... cxb5
Anderssen had faith in this move and returned to it in several future games. It was even played by
Steinitz. Given the course of the game, though, it looks more prudent to play 7 ... Nd5 again.

Exercise: What did Morphy choose in this position?

Answer:
8 Bg5!
Rapid development looks like the most appropriate recipe, as the most direct continuation offers
nothing clear. After 8 exf6 Qxf6 9 Re1+ Be7 10 Qe2, White can prevent Black from castling
immediately, but with his own poor development he has no way to increase the pressure. As well as the
optimistic (if correct) 10 ... a6, Black can return the pawns with 10 ... d5! 11 Qxb5+ Qc6 12 Qb4?! Be6
13 Qxd4 0-0, obtaining the superior position.
8 ... Be7
8 ... h6?? isnt possible due to 9 exf6 hxg5 10 Re1+.
9 exf6 Bxf6 10 Bxf6 Qxf6 11 Re1+ Kf8

Some sources say that this position was reached via 10 Re1+ Kf8 11 Bxf6 Qxf6. There isnt any vital
difference between these two move orders, since 11 ... Kd8 is worse than placing the king on f8.

Exercise: What do you think Morphy played in this position?

Answer:
202
 12 c3
An unsurprising decision, isnt it? Morphy sacrifices a pawn to speed up his development.
Morphy commented in A.C.M. 1859: Up to this move the game coincides with one played by Lange
in his Schach-partieen. In that game White played 12 Na3 a6 13 Qe2, but after 13 ... g6, followed by ...
d7-d5 and/or ... Kg7, Black doesnt stand badly. Morphys move enables his knight to reach a much
better square than a3.
Both Anderssen and Steinitz faced 12 Qe2. A.Carstanjen-A.Anderssen, Cologne 1859, continued 12
... Qe6 13 Qd2 Qb6 14 c3 d5 15 cxd4, reaching a position similar to the game (after 14 Nc3), with a bad
bishop vs. a good knight. Here it would also be unwise to underestimate the weakness of the dark
squares, as Anderssen did: 15 ... Be6 16 Nc3 h5 17 a4 b4 18 Na2 a5 19 Nc1 Rh6 20 Nb3 Rg6 21 Nc5
Kg8 22 Re5 Bh3 23 g3 and now after 23 ... f5? 24 Rae1, Blacks position collapsed in a few moves. In
another game against the same opponent Anderssen played 16 ... h6 instead, followed by 17 ... g6 and 18
... Kg7, and achieved a better result.
Steinitz solved his problems in a less weakening way. First of all he secured the position of his king
by playing 12 ... g6 at once; then after 13 Nd2 d6 14 Qxb5 a6 15 Qd5 Bf5 16 Ne4 Bxe4 17 Rxe4 Kg7 18
g3 Rac8, the game was equal and soon drawn, H.Bird-W.Steinitz, London (14th matchgame) 1866.
12 ... d5
Taking the pawn is very risky: after 12 ... dxc3 13 Nxc3 d6? 14 Nd5 (threatening Nc7) 14 ... Qd8 15
Rc1, Black cant cope with Whites advantage in development and activity; e.g. 15 ... Be6 16 Rxe6! fxe6
17 Qf3+ Kg8 18 Rc7 and wins.
13 cxd4 Be6 14 Nc3 a6 15 Re5

Whites compensation for the pawn is adequate; he has the superior development and a firm grip on
the dark squares.
15 ... Rd8
Understandably Anderssen is reluctant to let go of his extra pawn and resign himself to an inferior,
albeit tenable position after 15 ... g6 16 Nxd5 Bxd5 17 Rxd5 Kg7.
16 Qb3
Morphy continues to mount pressure on the d5-pawn. His queen move makes way for the a1-rook to
come to d1, while creating the possibility of playing a timely a2-a4, demonstrating that Blacks 15 ...
Rd8 left his queenside slightly weak.
16 ... Qe7
This defends b7 against the threat of a2-a4, although the situation of the black king remains a
problem. If 16 ... g6 here, White could play 17 a4 bxa4 18 Qxb7 Kg7 19 Qxa6, when he has regained the
pawn, remaining with the more pleasant position.
17 Rae1 g5?
A move reminiscent of the 23 ... f5? in the Carstanjen-Anderssen game mentioned above. Black
weakens his kingside without obtaining anything in return; we can safely say that Morphy would never
have played this.
Instead, White would have some advantage after 17 ... g6 18 Ne2 Kg7 19 Nf4 (if this knight
manoeuvre was what Anderssen wanted to prevent, he has paid too high a price by making other
203
concessions) 19 ... Rhe8 20 Qg3, followed perhaps by h2-h4-h5, but Blacks position would be sounder
than in the game.

Exercise: What do you think Morphy played here?

Answer:
18 Qd1
This immediate transfer of the queen to the kingside was criticized, even though its a reasonable
move, as it was considered more precise to activate the knight first. There are two ways to do this: one
is via the queenside with 18 a4! bxa4 19 Nxa4 Rg8 20 Nc5, which offers a slight advantage; but 18 Ne2!
is more energetic, heading for g3; for example, 18 ... Rg8 19 Ng3 (threatening Nf5, followed by Qa3+)
19 ... Qd6 20 Qe3 and Whites superiority is clear.
18 ... Qf6 19 R1e3
Creating an immediate threat which Black fails to spot. Another option was to prepare the f2-f4 break
with 19 Ne2, followed by Qd2.
19 ... Rg8??
It was essential to play 19 ... Kg7 and the struggle continues, although Whites advantage would not
be in doubt he could play 20 Rg3, for instance, with the idea of h2-h4, seeking to exploit the
weaknesses in Blacks camp.

Exercise (easy): What had Anderssen overlooked when he played his last move?

Answer:
20 Rxe6! 1-0
If 20 ... fxe6 then 21 Rf3 wins.
204
 In the fourth game of the match, the players repeated the opening moves of the second game.

Game 29
A.Anderssen-P.Morphy
4th matchgame, Paris 1858
Ruy Lopez [C77]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 d3 Bc5

In those days, when the theory of the openings was in its infancy, Morphy was critical of 5 d3, on the
grounds that it allows the development of this bishop to c5, leading to equality.
6 c3 b5 7 Bc2
More frequently the bishop retreats to b3, although that position is usually reached by 5 ... b5 6 Bb3
Bc5 7 c3. At the time of writing, 7 Nc3 is more popular via that move order, and if 7 ... d6 then 8 Nd5.
In the only game where Morphy reached a similar position (via 5 ... Bc5 6 0-0 b5 7 Bb3), after his
retirement, against J.Sicre in Havana 1862, he played 7 ... d6 8 c3 h6.

7 ... d5!
The retreat of the bishop to c2 seems to encourage this move, although Steinitz considered it to be
premature. It comes as no surprise that Morphy should seek active piece play, as long as there no clear
reason not to.
8 exd5
In the 16th game of the Steinitz-Chigorin World Championship match in Havana 1892, Steinitz played
8 Qe2, although he failed to gain any advantage after 8 ... 0-0 9 Bg5 dxe4 10 dxe4 h6; and Black has a
good alternative in 9 ... d4, played successfully by Tarrasch and more recently by Ivan Sokolov.
8 ... Nxd5 9 h3
Preventing the threat of ... Bg4, which would gain in strength once White has completed his plan of
advancing with d3-d4.
9 ... 0-0 10 0-0 h6
It is possible that this move, which weakens the kingside and might have been very important in the
game, could have been postponed. Instead, the prophylactic retreat 10 ... Bb6! was interesting.
11 d4
This was Anderssens idea. The alternative was 11 Nxe5 Nxe5 12 d4, when Morphy may have
rejected 12 ... Bd6, which concedes a slight initiative to White after 13 dxe5 Bxe5 14 f4 Bf6 15 Qd3 g6
16 f5 g5 17 Nd2, and instead chosen 12 ... Qf6, with good piece play for the pawn after 13 dxc5 Bb7,
followed by ... Rad8.
11 ... exd4 12 cxd4 Bb6 13 Nc3

205
 13 ... Ndb4?!
The move isnt a bad one in itself, but it forms part of a dubious plan.

Question: Really? It looks like a free move that forces the bishop to retreat to the not very advantageous b1-square; then in order to
evict the knight from b4 White would have to play a2-a3, another move of debatable utility. Isnt that so?

Answer: What we have here is a slightly atypical isolated queens pawn (IQP) position, with a black pawn on b5 (rather than b7) and a
bishop on b6 (rather than e7). The absence of the e7-bishop means that Blacks kingside is slightly weakened. Nevertheless, his position is a
good one; he should be able to cope with any problems on the kingside, while the bishop on b6, aiming at d4, can be an advantage.
As for the utility of a2-a3 and the inconvenience of having to retreat the bishop to b1, the negative
side dissipates when we consider that one of the typical plans for White in IQP positions is to play Bc2
(or Bb1) and Qd3, for which its useful to insert a2-a3 to prevent a subsequent ... Nb4.
There were several good moves instead of 13 ... Ndb4. The most appropriate, with a view to a long struggle, was 13 ... Nf6!, and after
14 Be3, Black can choose between 14 ... Bb7, 14 ... Be6 and 14 ... Re8.
14 Bb1?!
White offers the d4-pawn; defending it with 14 Be3? would entail simply leaving the isolani as a
weakness after 14 ... Nxc2.
However, 14 Be4! was a good zwischenzug, and if 14 ... f5 then 15 Bb1, when the inclusion of ... f7-f5 naturally weakens Blacks
position; after 15 ... Nxd4 16 Nxd4 Qxd4 (not 16 ... Bxd4?? 17 Qb3+) 17 Qf3, followed by a2-a3 and Rd1, White would have more than
enough compensation for the pawn, as Marczy pointed out.
14 ... Be6?
This move is based on a tactical error. Although it wasnt his intention, Black should have played 14
... Nxd4, and even if 15 Nxd4 and 16 Qf3 still gives White some compensation, Black certainly isnt
worse.
15 a3 Nd5

Exercise: This position was reached in both games two and four of the match. Surprisingly, neither player noticed a strong continuation
206
for White here. Can you find it?

16 Be3?!
In game two Anderssen played 16 Ne2? Nf6 17 Be3, which we shall examine in Supplementary
Game 29.1. The text move is a slight improvement, defending the centre pawn by developing the bishop
at once and maintaining the harmony of Whites position.
The petite combinaison 16 Nxb5 is harmless: Black can choose between 16 ... Nf6 17 Nc3 Nxd4 18
Nxd4 Bxd4 with an equal position; or 16 ... axb5 17 Qc2 Nf6 18 Qxc6 Bd5! 19 Qc3 (taking the second
pawn is risky, as after 19 Qxb5 Bxf3 20 gxf3 Ra5, the d4-pawn is lost and Whites king is left very
vulnerable) 19 ... Re8, when his great piece activity compensates for the pawn.
Answer: But 16 Qc2! is very strong. Now 16 ... Nf6? loses to 17 Ne4!, based on the weakness of the loose knight on c6; and 16 ... f5 is
no better, since White can exploit another tactical weakness (the a2-g8 diagonal) with 17 Re1 Qf6 18 Rxe6! Qxe6 19 Nxd5 Qxd5 20 Ba2.
Black would have to resign himself to playing a pawn down after 16 ... g6 17 Bxh6.

Question: Isnt it odd that neither of the two players saw this over the board, and even odder that it wasnt found after game two?

Answer: Yes, its very strange. But times have changed and things are very different today, when top games can be watched live in the
Internet and a blunder is flagged up by the engines the second after it is made.
16 ... Nf6
Anticipating the white battery after 17 Qc2 or 17 Qd3.
17 Qd2
Now Black has to check whether 18 Bxh6 is really a threat or not.
17 ... Re8
Bringing the rook into play and giving his king an escape square that might prove useful in some lines.
Black concludes that the sacrifice on h6 cant be prevented, but neither does it bring White any advantage; for example, 18 Bxh6 gxh6
19 Qxh6 Nxd4 20 Rd1 (20 Ng5? is parried by 20 ... Nf5) 20 ... Bb3 (or 20 ... Bc4) 21 Ng5 (or just 21 Qg5+ Kf8 22 Qh6+ etc) 21 ... Qd6 22
Bh7+ Nxh7 23 Qxh7+ Kf8 24 Re1 Qf6 25 Qh4 Kg8 26 Qh7+ Kf8 with a draw.
18 Rd1 Bd5
Morphy opts for a strategy of blockade, at the cost of his light-squared bishop. Instead, 18 ... Bb3!
was interesting, to drive the rook off the central file and weaken the defences of the d4-pawn. After 19
Rc1 Qd7, Black seems to be fine, since 20 Bxh6 can now be met by 20 ... Nxd4! straight away, as well
as taking on h6.
19 Ne5
Faithful to his style, Anderssen offers a pawn. A more positional player would have considered 19
Nxd5 Qxd5 20 Ba2 with a good position for White.

Exercise: What did Morphy play here? Do you think he accepted the pawn?

Answer: No.
19 ... Qd6!
The greedy 19 ... Nxe5? runs into 20 dxe5 Rxe5 (or 20 ... Bxe3 21 fxe3 Rxe5 22 e4) 21 Bxb6 cxb6
22 Ba2, winning a piece due to the pin on the d-file. The attempted counter-pin after 22 ... Qe7 (or 22 ...
Qe8) 23 Bxd5 Rd8 fails to 24 Re1! Nxd5 25207Rxe5 Qxe5 26 Rd1 and Black is pinned again.
Alternatively, White can throw in 23 f4!, eliminating all counterplay before capturing on d5.
20 Qc2?
Anderssen insists on attacking, but Morphy will show that this is unsound.
Here 20 Bxh6 was also inadequate in view of 20 ... gxh6 21 Qxh6 Nxe5 22 Nxd5 (not 22 dxe5? Bxf2+! 23 Kxf2 Ng4+ or 23 Kh1 Rxe5
and wins) 22 ... Qxd5 23 Qxf6 Rad8!. Despite the engines interesting resource 24 Bh7+! Kxh7 25 Qh4+ Kg8 26 dxe5, aiming for perpetual
check, Black can play 26 ... Bd4 27 Qg5+ Kf8 28 Qh6+ Ke7 29 Qh4+ f6!, when he still has some chances.
If White lines up further forward with 20 Qd3, Black might strengthen his position with 20 ... Rad8, as suggested by Zukertort. White
cant then support his e5-knight with 21 f4? because of 21 ... Bc4! 22 Nxc4 bxc4 23 Qd2 Qe6, winning; so he should forget about the attack
and play something like 21 Nxd5 Qxd5 22 Nf3, followed by Ba2, with equal chances. But in this case 20 ... Nxe5 21 dxe5 Rxe5 looks even
better for Black, as 22 Bf4 can be met by 22 ... Qc5! 23 Qd2 Rh5, keeping the extra pawn.
Another possibility was 20 Nxd5 Nxd5, when one complex line, wholly in the style of Anderssen,
was 21 Qc2 Nxe3 22 Qh7+ (22 fxe3!? is also possible) 22 ... Kf8 23 Nxf7! Kxf7 24 fxe3 Ke7 25 Be4,
followed by Rac1. Despite having only a pawn for the piece, White has obvious compensation as both
Blacks minor pieces are out of play and his king is weak.

Exercise: How did Morphy refute Anderssens idea?

Answer:
20 ... Nxd4!
After the necessary calculation, Morphy exploits the greater centralization of his pieces.
21 Bxd4 Bxd4 22 Nxd5
22 Ng4 isnt dangerous in view of 22 ... Bb7 or 22 ... c6, and with his rook on a1 Whites attack is
going nowhere after 23 Nxf6+ Qxf6 24 Qh7+? Kf8 25 Qh8+ Ke7 26 Nxd5+ cxd5. The analysis engines
consider 22 ... Nxg4 to be even better, seeing no danger to the black king after 23 hxg4 Rad8; the queen
check on h7 is again harmless, as White is unable to back it up.
22 ... Qxe5 23 Nxf6+ Qxf6 24 Qh7+ Kf8 25 Be4

208
 White is finally ready to bring his last piece into play, but at the cost of a pawn and weaknesses at b2
and f2. This is one of the rare instances where the presence of opposite-coloured bishops fails to help
the attacker.
25 ... Rad8!
Rather than take on f2 and risk trouble on the f-file, Black prepares to win the b2-pawn safely. Not
yet 25 ... Bxb2? due to 26 Rd7! and Whites attack springs to life.
26 Kh1
After 26 Rf1 or 26 Rd2, capturing on b2 is still fine for Black.
26 ... Bxb2 27 Rab1 Rxd1+ 28 Rxd1 Qxf2 29 Qh8+ Ke7 30 Qh7 Be5
Three pawns up Morphy is content to simplify to an easily winning position. Otherwise 30 ... Rd8
was good, since 31 Rxd8 loses to 31 ... Qe1+ 32 Kh2 Be5+ etc.
31 Bf3 Qg3 32 Kg1

32 ... Qg6
This is good enough to win, even if Morphy might have been expected to seek to conclude the
struggle in the middlegame; for example, 32 ... Bd4+! 33 Kh1 (or 33 Rxd4 Qe1+ 34 Kh2 Qe5+) 33 ...
g6! 34 Qxh6 Rh8 35 Qd2 Rxh3+! 36 gxh3 Qxh3+ 37 Qh2 Qxf3+ 38 Qg2 Qxd1+ 39 Kh2 Be5+ etc.
33 Qxg6 fxg6 34 Bb7 Rb8 35 Bxa6 c6 36 Kf2?!
Anderssen doesnt defend in the most tenacious manner. It was better to play 36 Rb1, intending a3-a4
to free the bishop, even if it means Black gaining one or two passed pawns as a result.
36 ... Bd6 37 Rd3?!
Here 37 Ra1 was more stubborn, with the same idea of playing a3-a4.
37 ... Kd7 38 Ke2 Ra8!

Another pawn falls and the rest is simple. All Black needs to do is advance the connected passed
pawns with the necessary modicum of care.
39 Bb7 Rxa3 40 Rd1 Kc7 41 Bc8 Ra2+ 42 Kf3 Bc5 43 Be6 Rf2+ 44 Kg3 Rf6 45 Rd7+ Kb6 46 Bg4 Bd6+ 47 Kh4 c5 48 Bf3
209
c4 49 Rxg7 Rf4+ 50 Bg4 c3 51 g3 Rxg4+ 0-1

Supplementary Game 29.1

A.Anderssen-P.Morphy
2nd matchgame, Paris 1858

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 d3 Bc5 6 c3 b5 7 Bc2 d5 8 exd5 Nxd5 9 h3 0-0 10 0-0 h6 11 d4 exd4 12 cxd4 Bb6 13
Nc3 Ndb4 14 Bb1 Be6 15 a3 Nd5
As we saw in the main game, White could have gained the advantage here with 16 Qc2!.
16 Ne2?

Although this move threatens to win with 17 Qc2, thats a poor return on a move that retards Whites
development, and one to which Black can respond with something useful.
16 ... Nf6
Black defends h7 in advance and starts to apply pressure to the isolated queens pawn.
17 Be3 Re8!
There were various attractive options here, such as 17 ... Bd5 and 17 ... Bc4. Morphy prefers include
another piece in the struggle, postponing the above-mentioned alternatives to try to lend them more
power.
18 Ng3 Bc4!

Once again it was difficult to choose between this move, 18 ... Bd5, 18 ... Na5, etc; although all of these are good, the text move forces
White to take an important decision.
19 Nf5!?
Objectively this sacrifice is unsound, but at least it complicates the struggle. Instead, 19 Re1 allows
19 ... Nxd4! 20 Nxd4 Bxd4 21 Bxd4 Rxe1+ 22 Qxe1 Qxd4, demonstrating one of the points of 17 ...
Re8. And exchanging the light-squared bishops with 19 Bd3, so as not to lose material, would represent
a positional capitulation, as after 19 ... Bxd3 20 Qxd3 Qd5, White would have nothing in return for the
weakness of his IQP.
210
 19 ... Bxf1 20 Qxf1
Recapturing with 20 Kxf1 would make little difference.
20 ... Ne7
Exchanging pieces is usually a good measure when ahead on material. For his part, White agrees to
the exchange in return for retaining a knight on the f5-square, which always offers hopes.
21 N3h4 Nxf5 22 Nxf5 Qd7
This prepares the development of the a8-rook and is a good move. Alternatively, Zukertort
recommended 22 ... Ne4, followed by 23 ... Qf6.

23 Bxh6!
Anderssen had this second sacrifice in mind when he played 19 Nf5. It is almost forced, since it
represents Whites only chance to complicate the struggle before Black completes his development with
23 ... Rad8, or plays 23 ... Ne4.
23 ... gxh6
Black is now a rook up, and a rook is a rook, so it would have been difficult for Morphy to opt
instead for the equally winning continuation 23 ... g6, when 24 Qc1 can be answered by 24 ... Ne4.
24 Qc1 Bxd4
This is correct, involving the bishop in the defence. In contrast, 24 ... Nh7 25 Qxh6 f6 26 Ba2+ Kh8
27 Nh4 Rg8 28 Bxg8 Kxg8 29 Re1 is quite unclear.
25 Qxh6 Re1+
Once again the best move, pinning the bishop to the rook.
26 Kh2

Anderssen has managed to complicate the struggle, although Blacks position is still objectively
winning.

Exercise: The moment has come for concrete measures, as White threatens mate. What should Black play here?
211
 26 ... Ne4?
A calculation error.
Answer: The only winning chance was with 26 ... Qxf5! 27 Bxf5 Rxa1, gaining two rooks and a knight for the queen. Once Black
manages to get organized, even if he loses a pawn or two, his material advantage should prove decisive; e.g. 28 Qg5+ (White has to start
checking; 28 Qf4 Rd8 29 Qxc7 Rd5 is worse) 28 ... Kf8 29 Qh6+ Ke7 30 Qf4 Rd8 31 Qxc7+ Ke8 32 Bc8 (32 Qc6+ Kf8 33 Qxa6 Be5+ 34
g3 Rd2 35 Kg2 Bd4 wins easily) and now after 32 ... Re1 or 32 ... Rd5, Blacks advantage is indisputable.
27 Bxe4 Rxe4
Forced, since the advantage passes to White after 27 ... Rxa1? 28 Nxd4!. Despite being two
exchanges down, Whites three attackers form a very strong team; note that 28 ... Qxd4? loses to 29
Bh7+ Kh8 30 Bg6+ and mate in two moves.
27 ... Be5+? is also inferior: 28 f4 Rxe4 29 Qg5+! Kf8 30 fxe5 and White has a dangerous initiative;
for example, after 30 ... Qd5 (the only move) 31 Qe7+ Kg8 32 Nh6+ Kg7 33 Qf6+ Kf8 34 Nxf7 Qxf7 35
Qh8+ Ke7 36 Qxa8, White has all the chances in the major piece endgame.
28 Qg5+ Kf8 29 Qh6+ Ke8 30 Nxd4 Qd6+
White was threatening 31 Qh8+ and Qxa8. Keeping the queens on with 30 ... Qd5 (defending the a8-
rook) isnt promising after 31 Rd1, when the knight is taboo in view of 32 Qh8+. Taking the knight at
once is no better: 30 ... Rxd4?? loses to 31 Re1+, while after 30 ... Qxd4 31 Qc6+ Ke7 32 Qxa8, the
best Black can hope for is a draw.
31 Qxd6 cxd6 32 Rd1

White has a pawn for the exchange and his strong centralized knight defends the vital entry points on
the second rank (c2 and e2). Since the knight cant easily be dislodged, Black will find it virtually
impossible to make progress (32 ... Rc8 33 g4 Rc4 34 Nf5 doesnt help him at all).
32 ... Kf8 33 Rd2 Rae8 34 g4 R8e5 35 f3 Re1 36 h4 Rd5 37 Kg3 a5 38 h5 Kg8 39 Kf2 Re8 40 Kg3 Re7 41 Kf4 Kh7 42
Kg3 Re3 43 Kf4 Re8 44 Kg3 Re3 -

Game 30
P.Morphy-A.Anderssen
5th matchgame, Paris 1858
Scandinavian Defence [B01]

1 e4 d5
After his defeat in the third game, Anderssen never again replied to Morphys 1 e4 with 1 ... e5
during the match. He played two Scandinavians, one Sicilian, and one irregular defence. This was a sort
of tribute to Morphys mastery in the open games, as Anderssen later admitted though as we will see,
he lost all these games as well.
They did subsequently play a series of informal games with 1 e4 e5, but those were all with the
Kings Gambit, where the opening moves 1 e4 e5 2 f4 were obligatory.
2 exd5 Nf6 3 d4
The theory of the time, in the Handbuch, recommended 3 Bb5+, a move also employed by Fischer on
the twentieth century.
3 ... Nxd5 4 c4 Nf6
Another idea is 4 ... Nb6; the position is then similar to some lines of Alekhines Defence (1 e4 Nf6)
212
in which, with the long a1-h8 diagonal left open, Black tries to apply pressure on d4 with ... g7-g6 and
... Bg7. Naturally, this is only one of the many development options available to Black.
5 Nc3 Bf5 6 Nf3 e6

7 Be3
A flexible move, not yet committing the other bishop.
Alternatively, 7 Qb3 is typical of some positions in the Queens Gambit with an early ... Bf5,
although here Black can reply 7 ... Qc8 and White hasnt achieved much.
Another thematic idea, borrowed from the Caro-Kann in this case, is to play 7 Bd3 Bxd3 8 Qxd3, as
in the game P.Keres-O.Novotny, Prague 1943, which continued 8 ... Be7 9 Bf4 c6 10 0-0-0 Qa5 11
Rhe1, when White has the freer game and a slight advantage, but no greater than after the other options at
his disposal.
7 ... Bb4?
In this case the pin isnt at all annoying for White; it was better to play 7 ... c6 or 7 ... Be7.

Exercise: How did Morphy show that Blacks last move was inaccurate?

Answer:
8 Qb3
This move is now stronger than on the previous move, since the indirect pressure on b7-pawn is
harder for Black to deal with.
Morphy also considered 8 Qa4+ Nc6 9 Ne5 but decided that the text move was stronger, since after 9
... 0-0 10 Nxc6 Bxc3+ 11 bxc3 bxc6, whether White takes the pawn or not, in either case his opponent
has an equal game, as indicated by Marczy.
Todays analysis engines agree with the assessments of Morphy and Marczy. After 12 Qxc6 Rb8, for
instance, White is behind in development; he cant even restrain Blacks activity with 13 Bf4? because
of 13 ... e5! 14 Bxe5 Re8 15 Qf3 (15 Be2?! Rb2 is worse) 15 ... Be4 16 Qe3 Bg6, reaching a position
that both Anderssen and Morphy would have gladly played as Black.
8 ... Bxc3+ 9 bxc3!

Question: Really? I was thinking that the idea of 8 Qb3 was to play 9 Qxc3, keeping his structure intact. Why recapture with the pawn?

Answer: Taking with queen was no doubt a good alternative. Morphys move is more ambitious, since White is attacking b7, as we
mentioned above. There is no obvious way for Black to try to exploit the doubled c-pawns, and on the positive side the pawn on c3 bolsters
Whites centre, so that in the event of a future ... c7-c5 or ... e6-e5, White is ready to recapture on d4 with a pawn, retaining his central
superiority.
9 ... Be4
Here 9 ... b6 was perhaps a better way to implement Blacks idea of placing the bishop on the long
diagonal, so that after ... Be4 the bishop can retreat immediately to b7 if attacked.
10 Nd2 Bc6

213
 Exercise: How did Morphy continue his development?

Answer:
11 Bd3
Of course; he doesnt need to play f2-f3. If Black takes the g-pawn with 11 ... Bxg2, then after 12 Rg1
Bc6 13 Rxg7, it is his own king who is more inconvenienced by the opening of lines.
11 ... Nbd7

Exercise: How did Morphy continue now?

Answer:
12 Qc2
One should constantly ask oneself: what is my opponent planning to do?. Here the automatic 12 0-
0?! runs into 12 ... Nc5!, exchanging the strong white bishop.
12 ... h6?!
A move of debatable utility; it doesnt seem an improvement on 12 ... 0-0, or even 12 ... Ng4 13 0-0
Nxe3 14 fxe3. White would stand slightly better in all cases.
13 0-0 0-0

Exercise: There are many possibilities here. What do you think Morphy played?

Answer:
14 Rae1
Morphy is faithful to his style, not hiding the fact that his target is the black king. Another way to
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deploy the rooks is on the central files; Zukertort preferred 14 Rfe1, followed by 15 Rad1.
14 ... b6 15 h3
Morphy wants to control g4, so that he can play f2-f4 without having to worry about ... Ng4. But thats
not the only point of this move, as we shall see.
15 ... Qc8?
Zukertort was very critical of this, one idea of which is to play ... Qb7, putting pressure on the long
diagonal. He wrote: One of those moves which a player may evolve from his inner consciousness,
which baffle any attempt to explain them to the outer world. 15 ... Kh8 was very much to the point.
Anderssens problem is that his position is already unpleasant and all he can do is wait. One can
suggest moves, such as Zukertorts 15 ... Kh8, or else 15 ... Bb7 to allow ... c7-c5, but after 16 f4, with
the idea of f4-f5 or Nf3-e5, White is still better.

Exercise: How did Morphy counter Blacks idea?

Answer:
16 Kh2!

Question: Thats a surprise, and youve given it an exclamation mark; is it the best move?

Answer: It isnt clear whether its the best or not, but its definitely a move that matches Morphys style of play, and its consistent with
13 h3 as well. Since Black has helpfully provided a hook with 12 ... h6, it should come as no surprise that Morphy considers breaking with a
timely g2-g4-g5 advance.
In answer to 16 ... Qb7 Morphy didnt want to play simply 17 f3, which would nullify Blacks battery
and retain the advantage. He wanted to do something rather more aggressive; i.e. 17 Rg1, followed by
g2-g4-g5.
There were other ways to play, such as the natural 16 f4 Qb7 17 Rf2, intending f4-f5 or once again
g2-g4-g5 (but not 17 Nf3 as that would allow 17 ... Be4!, weakening Whites attack).
16 ... Kh8 17 Rg1 Rg8 18 g4 g5

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 Anderssen takes radical measures to prevent g4-g5. Otherwise 18 ... Bb7 19 g5 hxg5 20 Rxg5 wasnt
pleasant.

Exercise (easy): How did Morphy continue now?

Answer:
19 f4
Of course; opening lines against the weakened black kingside and, if only for a few moves, chess is
easy again, as Najdorf used to say.
19 ... Qf8

Exercise: There are several possibilities here

what do you think was Morphys choice?

Answer:
20 Rg3!
The idea is play Nf3, increasing the pressure on g5 to force Black to exchange on f4, opening the f-
file and the diagonal c1-h6 in Whites favour. 20 Ref1! was of similar strength.
20 ... Rd8
On 20 ... Qd6, analysed by Zukertort, White would prepare Nf3 with 21 Rf1; for example, 21 ... Rg7
22 fxg5 hxg5 23 Nf3 Bxf3 24 Rxf3, followed by Qf2, when all the white pieces are attacking on the
kingside.
21 Nf3 Bxf3 22 Rxf3 Qd6 23 Kg2

23 ... Nh5
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 Trying to complicate the game and confuse his opponent. An optimistic Lwenthal commented: A
very brilliant conception, and one that would probably have resulted successfully against a less
formidable opponent. Others were more critical: Zukertort described it as a thoroughly unsound
sacrifice, while Steinitz, even more harshly, commented that it was throwing away a clear piece
without a shadow of justification.
Although those two masters were right, it is hard to suggest anything better; for instance, after 23 ...
c5 24 fxg5 hxg5 25 Qd2, the black position is indefensible.
24 fxg5 hxg5 25 gxh5 g4 26 hxg4
It is quite correct to take the pawn; White has more than sufficient defensive resources to cope with
the opening of the g-file.
Alternatively, he might have played 26 Rxf7, since 26 ... gxh3+ 27 Kh1 is nothing to worry about
either; e.g. 27 ... Rg7 (or 27 ... Rg2 28 Bf4 Qc6 29 Be4) 28 Bf4 e5 29 Rxg7 Kxg7 30 Rxe5 and there is
no defence.
26 ... Rxg4+ 27 Kf1 f5 28 Qf2 Ne5

Exercise: What was the most crushing way for White to win?

29 dxe5
Morphy handles this phase of the game, following Anderssens piece sacrifice, less accurately, which
perhaps goes some way towards justifying Lwenthals assessment of 23 ... Nh5.
Answer: The text move is good enough, but 29 Bf4! was stronger, as after 29 ... Nxd3 (or 29 ... Rxf4 30 Rxe5!) 30 Bxd6 Nxf2 31 Be5+,
White wins more easily.
29 ... Qxd3+ 30 Qe2 Qe4 31 Bf2 Qc6 32 Rd1 Rxd1+ 33 Qxd1 Qxc4+ 34 Qd3
Here 34 Qe2 was playable, retaining the a2-pawn, but Morphys move is also correct and contains a
good idea ...
34 ... Qxa2

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 Exercise: What was Morphys idea?

Answer:
35 Rg3
Forcing the exchange of either the rooks or the queens, and making the technical task simpler.
35 ... Qc4 36 Qxc4 Rxc4 37 Rg6 Rc6
After 37 ... Rxc3 38 Rxe6, the passed e-pawn is decisive; e.g. 38 ... Rh3 39 Rh6+ Kg7 40 e6! Kf8 41
Kg2 Rd3 42 Rg6, followed by h5-h6 etc.
38 c4 a5 39 Ke2 Rxc4
Black has to do this now, before Kd3 leaves his rook with no squares.
40 Rxe6 Rc2+ 41 Kf3 a4 42 Rg6
Instead, 42 Re8+ Kg7 43 e6 was stronger: Whites two passed pawns are much faster than Blacks;
but the text move doesnt change the result.
42 ... Rc4 43 Rg1 a3 44 e6 a2 45 Ra1
Here 45 e7 Re4 46 Bh4, followed by Ra1 and Rxa2, was quicker.
45 ... Re4 46 Rxa2 Rxe6

Black has made some progress, but not enough. Although White has only the h-pawn pawn left, he has
the right bishop to control its queening square.
47 Kf4 Rd6 48 Kxf5 Rd5+ 49 Kg4 b5 50 Ra8+ Kh7 51 Ra7 Rd7 52 Bg3 Rg7+ 53 Kh4 Rf7 54
Rxc7 1-0

In the sixth game Anderssen resorted to playing 1 a3, trying to avoid open positions altogether; and he
was successful, in so far as he gained a winning advantage, but he went on to squander it, eventually
even allowing the draw to escape him, as we saw from the extract in Chapter One.
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 In the seventh game Anderssen once again played the Scandinavian Defence.

Game 31
P.Morphy-A.Anderssen
7th matchgame, Paris 1858
Scandinavian Defence [B01]

1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 e5

Question: I find this move surprising. Can it be sound to open up the game like this as Black, having only developed the queen?

Answer: Indeed, it seems too ambitious and feels suspect for the reason you mentioned. It looks inferior to the usual lines beginning with
4 ... c6 or 4 ... Nf6. On the other hand, Anderssens idea creates immediate tension and allows him to develop his minor pieces quickly.
5 dxe5
A reply that one might expect from Morphy, taking up the challenge and aiming for speedy
development.
In S.Tarrasch-J.Mieses, Gothenburg 1920, White played differently, developing quickly but not
objecting to an early exchange of queens, relying on his more active pieces even in the endgame: 5 Nf3
Bb4 6 Bd2 Bg4 7 Be2 exd4; although Black has been able to mobilize both his bishops quickly, Whites
advantage in development and piece coordination soon makes itself felt: 8 Nxd4 Qe5 9 Ncb5! (the
alternative was 9 a3, but Tarrasch evaluated that in the ensuing endgame his pieces are better placed to
give him the advantage) 9 ... Bxe2 10 Qxe2 Bxd2+ 11 Kxd2 Qxe2+ 12 Kxe2 Na6 13 Rhe1 0-0-0 14
Nxa7+! Kb8 15 Nac6+! and White went on to win.
5 ... Qxe5+
Subsequent attempts to rehabilitate this line have focused on accelerating Blacks development with 5
... Bb4 or 5 ... Nc6.
6 Be2
In a 1913 simul i.e. before his above-mentioned game with Mieses Tarrasch played 6 Qe2 Qxe2+
7 Bxe2, followed by Bf4 and 0-0-0, when the white pieces were definitely more active in the ending,
but against a strong opponent it wouldnt have been as easy to increase this slight advantage.
6 ... Bb4
In O.Duras-C.Schlechter, Bad Pistyan 1912, Black tried to revive the line with 6 ... Bg4, and although the game was drawn, it seems that
Whites play can be significantly improved at various points. After 7 Be3 Bxe2 8 Ngxe2 (here 8 Qxe2, followed by Nf3, would give White a
big lead in development) 8 ... Bc5 9 Bxc5 Qxc5 and now, instead of 10 0-0 (as in the game), it looks appropriate to play la Tarrasch with
10 Qd4! Qxd4 11 Nxd4, followed by 12 0-0-0 or 12 Ndb5, when White stands better.

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 Exercise: How do you think Morphy responded to the attack on c3?

Answer:
7 Nf3!
Youre not really surprised by this, are you? Morphy offers a pawn in order to speed up his
development, gain the bishop pair, and open the b-file in his favour.
Steinitz wrote that this was a unnecessary sacrifice; but after the natural 7 Bd2, Black can play 7 ...
Bg4 under better conditions than in Duras-Schlechter, since White cant respond with Be3. Thus
Morphys pawn sacrifice has its logic.
7 ... Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 Qxc3+ 9 Bd2 Qc5 10 Rb1
The rook is activated, both putting pressure on b7 and envisaging an eventual transfer to the kingside
via Rb5 and possibly Rg5.
10 ... Nc6 11 0-0 Nf6

12 Bf4

Question: There are several playable moves here; is Morphys choice best?

Answer: There are three main possibilities: Morphys move, 12 Rb5, and 12 Bg5.
Marczy criticized Morphys choice and suggested 12 Rb5 Qd6 13 Re1 0-0 14 Qc1, but after 14 ...
b6, mobilizing the bishop, for instance, it is not clear how White gains the advantage; the rook cant
really achieve anything along the fifth rank.
However, 12 Bg5 looks more attractive, planning to damage Blacks pawn structure; e.g. 12 ... 0-0 13 Bxf6 gxf6 14 Qd2 (heading for the
kingside) or 14 Rb5 Qd6 15 Bd3, when Blacks weaknesses and the agility of Whites pieces provide compensation for the pawn. The same
would apply to the endgame arising after 12 ... Qd6 13 Qxd6 cxd6 and here, in addition to 14 Bxf6, White has 14 Nd2, planning Bf3 and/or
Nc4, again with sufficient compensation.
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 12 ... 0-0!
Steinitz didnt consider it necessary to return the pawn. Unfortunately, he didnt suggest an
alternative; 12 ... Qe7 would have been answered by 13 Re1, maintaining the pressure.
Despite the criticisms Anderssen appears to be defending well; in any case he soon reaches a
position with equal chances.
13 Bxc7 Nd4!
A good choice from among several reasonable moves, such as 13 ... Re8 or 13 ... Ne4, intending ...
Nc3. Anderssens move eliminates the c7-bishop that might have dominated the dark squares.
14 Qxd4 Qxc7 15 Bd3 Bg4?!
But this move can definitely be criticized. Instead, with 15 ... b6!, followed by 16 ... Bb7 or even 16
... Be6 (attacking a2), Black could have neutralized Whites pressure.

Exercise: How did Morphy bring the position to life?

Answer:
16 Ng5!
Preventing the exchange on f3, setting up the obvious threat of 17 Nxh7, as well as the possibility of
17 Ne4.
16 ... Rfd8
This move was criticized too, but the suggested improvement 16 ... Bh5 17 Ne4 Ng4? (adorned with
an ! by some annotators) 18 Ng3 b6 is unsound.

Exercise: How can White gain a big advantage after 18 ... b6 - ?

Answer: After 19 Be2!, Black cant prevent the loss of material; e.g. 19 ... Rfd8 (or 19 ... f5 20 h3!) 20 Qb4! and if 20 ... Nxh3!? then
21 Rfe1! Bxe2 22 Rxe2 f5 23 Re7 and wins.
It was also suggested that Black might head for a rook ending a pawn down with 17 ... Nxe4 18 Qxe4
Bg6 19 Qxb7 Qxb7 20 Rxb7 Bxd3 21 cxd3 Rfd8. Although the phrase all rook endings are drawn
applies in many cases, this isnt one of them. Instead of the passive 22 Rd1, White can play 22 Rc1 (or
22 Re1), intending to double rooks on the seventh rank; or if 22 ... Rxd3 then 23 Rxa7.
17 Qb4 Bc8?
A perhaps demoralized Anderssen makes a move that retains material equality but concedes the initiative.
It was more tenacious to sacrifice a pawn with 17 ... h6! 18 Ne4 Nd5! 19 Qxb7 Rac8, when Blacks
activity would make it difficult to breach his position.

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 Exercise: How did Morphy proceed here?

Answer:
18 Rfe1
By activating his last piece, of course, with the threat of 19 Re7.
18 ... a5
Now 18 ... h6 would be met by 19 Re7!, when 19 ... Rd7? allows mate in three with 20 Re8+! Nxe8
21 Bxh7+ Kh8 22 Qf8, while 19 ... Bd7 20 Nxf7 Nd5 fails to 21 Nxh6+! (Marczy) 21 ... gxh6 and now
the quickest win is 22 Bh7+ Kf8 23 Re8+! Kxe8 24 Bg6 mate.
19 Qe7!

Question: Hmm, exchanging queens?

Answer: Yes, thanks to Whites great dynamic advantage this is the quickest way to win material; Black cant defend f7 satisfactorily.
19 Qc4!, with the same idea, was also good.
19 ... Qxe7 20 Rxe7 Nd5?
This hastens the defeat, though Blacks position was very unpleasant in any case; if 20 ... Rf8 then 21
Bc4.
More tenacious was 20 ... h6 21 Nxf7 and only now 21 ... Nd5 (rather than 21 ... Kf8?, which is
refuted by 22 Nxd8 Kxe7 23 Nxb7 Rb8 24 Re1+ and Nxa5). Even then Black has a difficult task ahead;
for example, after 22 Nxd8 Nxe7 23 Nxb7 Rb8 24 Be4 Bf5 25 Bf3 Bxc2 26 Rc1 Bg6 27 Nxa5.
21 Bxh7+ Kh8 22 Rxf7
With two extra pawns the result is not really in any doubt.
22 ... Nc3 23 Re1 Nxa2

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 Exercise (easy): Black has managed to recoup one of the pawns, but material is no longer important. What is the quickest way to win?

Answer:
24 Rf4
Morphy opts for a mating attack on the h-file, and with a timely Nf7+ hanging over Black as well.
Obviously there were numerous other ways to win.
24 ... Ra6 25 Bd3 1-0

In the eighth game Anderssen again resorted to 1 a3. This time Morphy stood better at one point but
lost control of the situation; after a complicated struggle (in which the computer points out that
Anderssen missed a win when Morphy put his king on the wrong square), the game was drawn in 51
moves. The seventh and eighth games were both played on the same day, the 25th of December 1858.
The ninth game was a miniature and is possibly the most well-known of the match.

Game 32
P.Morphy-A.Anderssen
9th matchgame, Paris 1858
Sicilian Defence [B32]

1 e4 c5
The Sicilian Defence wasnt very popular in the middle of the nineteenth century, so the contributions
of Anderssen, Paulsen, De la Bourdonnais and Staunton were especially meritorious in opening up paths
that were relatively unexplored and viewed with some scepticism.
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6
This move order was used by Kasparov at the start of his career, with the idea of transposing to a
Scheveningen Variation, normally reached via 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6.

Question: This route allows Morphys next move; whats the advantage of playing this way?

Answer: One of the Kasparovs motives was to avoid the Keres Attack, 6 g4, which at the time was a main weapon of his great rival,
Karpov.
5 Nb5
If there is a problem for Black with this move order, this is it a move favoured by both Fischer and Karpov in their day. Indeed, Karpov
played it against Kasparov, although on one occasion he used a relative of the Keres Attack instead. This was in the 14th game of their
second match, where he played 5 Nc3 and answered 5 ... d6 with 6 g4!?, despite there being no knight on f6 for the advancing g-pawn to
attack.
5 ... d6

6 Bf4
This was Fischers favourite move, with which he beat Najdorf, Taimanov (twice) and Petrosian,
although the last of these wins was somewhat fortunate (see below). It was revived for a while with
some new ideas towards the end of the twentieth century.
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 White forces Black to play 6 ... e5, weakening the d5-square. In the current game it had a decisive
influence on the result, but from the 1970s onwards, which saw the rising popularity of the Sveshnikov
Variation (2 ... Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5 and so on), it began to be realized that such
positions are very complex and the hole on d5 is only one of the important factors.
Karpov preferred 6 c4, reaching a Marczy structure, and Fischer employed this too.
6 ... e5 7 Be3 f5?
Anderssen with his aggressive style wanted to hasten a crisis in the centre: previously such methods had always worked for him,
commented Kasparov.
In the twentieth century it was discovered that the correct way for Black is simply to continue his
development with 7 ... Nf6. The historic game that discouraged the White supporters of this line
continued 8 Bg5 Be6 9 N1c3 a6 10 Bxf6 gxf6 11 Na3 and here the spectacular counter-strike 11 ... d5!
was played in the first game of the Fischer-Petrosian match, Buenos Aires 1971; Petrosian soon gained
a clear advantage but ended up losing anyway. Later White sought new paths with 9 Nd2, leaving the c3-
square free for the b5-knight.

Exercise: How did Morphy respond to the threat to drive back his bishop with 8 ... f4 - ?

Answer:
8 N1c3!
Morphy makes development the priority, seeking to prove, successfully, that the advance 7 ... f5 was
a loss of tempo. Naturally, it is essential that the tactics work in support of his decision.
8 ... f4
If 8 ... a6 then 9 Nd5! axb5 10 Bb6 Qh4 11 Nc7+ Kd7 12 Nxa8 Qxe4+ 13 Qe2 is decisive according
to Kasparov; and 12 Qd5 (threatening Qe6+ and mates) might be even better: the queen also defends e4,
while after 12 ... Ke7, White can interpolate 13 g3 Qg4 (Blacks position after the exchange of queens
would be untenable owing to his material deficit) 14 Be2 before capturing the rook.

Exercise: How would you respond to 8 ... Nf6, controlling d5?

Answer: White can play 9 Bg5!, when 9 ... Be7 fails to 10 Bxf6 gxf6? (but otherwise the d6-pawn drops off) 11 Qh5+ with a decisive
invasion; e.g. 11 ... Kf8 12 Qh6+ Ke8 13 Qg7 Rf8 14 Nd5 with a crushing position. 9 ... Be6 is also insufficient: after 10 Nd5 Bxd5 11 exd5
Ne7 12 Bxf6 gxf6 13 Qh5+, Black must give up a pawn with 13 ... Ng6, since 13 ... Kd7 14 Qf7 is even worse.

Exercise: What was Morphys idea?

Answer:
9 Nd5!
Of course; the obvious threat is to check on c7, followed either by the capture of the a8-rook or an
attack on the black king.
9 ... fxe3
Consistent; the sad 9 ... Rb8 would leave Black in a most inferior position, in which he has no
compensation for the weakness on d5, and indeed the whole a2-g8 diagonal. One possible continuation
224
is 10 Nbc7+ Kf7 11 Bd2, followed perhaps by Bc4 and Bc3, and/or g2-g3 to open lines, and so on.
10 Nbc7+ Kf7

There are two candidate moves now: a materialistic one, and one seeking rapid development and an
attack. It isnt easy to know which is the better course of action without a very deep analysis, and that
would be very difficult to do over the board.

Exercise: What do you think was Morphys choice in this position?

Answer:
11 Qf3+?!
Morphy chooses the most attractive option, going for the attack. Objectively, it isnt the best, although
from the practical viewpoint Blacks position is very difficult to hold.
The materialistic 11 Nxa8! was stronger; e.g. 11 ... exf2+ 12 Kxf2 Qh4+ 13 g3 Qxe4 14 Bg2 and
Whites advantage is clear.
11 ... Nf6 12 Bc4 Nd4!

Question: Can this really be a good move, allowing White to take on f6 with check?

Answer: Yes; surprisingly this counter-attacking move by Black is a good one, enabling him to activate his pieces and slow down Whites
attack. In fact, although it isnt pleasant allowing Nxf6 with check, this is the only possible try to complicate the game, while avoiding a quick
mate, so in fact Black has no choice but to be bold.
If 12 ... Kg6, White can take the rook with advantage, but 13 Qg3+! is even stronger, and after 13 ...
Ng4, as well as the simple 14 f3, White can play 14 f4, threatening 15 f5+.
13 Nxf6+

Exercise: Blacks position appears to be falling apart. What defence had Anderssen prepared here?
225
 Answer:
13 ... d5!
A magnificent counter-blow: for the modest price of a pawn, Black activates his f8-bishop, gains the
d6-square, and also forces White to occupy d5 with his bishop, preventing Nd5+, which would be very
strong in several lines.
Admittedly, Black has little choice:
a) 13 ... Ke7 loses to the sequence 14 Nfd5+ Kd7 15 Qf7+ Be7 (15 ... Kc6 16 Nb4+ leads to a quick
mate) 16 fxe3 and the black king cant be defended; e.g. 16 ... Rf8 (or 16 ... Nxc2+ 17 Kd2, threatening
18 Bb5 mate) 17 exd4! Rxf7 18 Bb5 mate.
b) 13 ... Kg6 also fails, to 14 Qh5+ Kxf6 15 Ne8+! Qxe8 (or 15 ... Ke7? 16 Qf7 mate) 16 Qxe8
Nxc2+ (if 16 ... d5, hoping for 17 ... Bb4+, then simply 17 0-0-0! wins) 17 Kf1 e2+ (17 ... Nxa1 18 h4!
and there is no defence against Qf7 mate; if 18 ... e2+ then 19 Kg1! e1Q+ 20 Kh2 etc) 18 Bxe2 (not 18
Kxe2?? Bg4+) 18 ... Nxa1 19 g4! and Black, despite the favourable material balance, is helpless
against the new wave of the attack, according to Kasparov.
14 Bxd5+

Exercise: How should Black proceed now?

Answer:
14 ... Kg6?
After conducting a difficult defence so far, Anderssen commits a blunder which costs him the game
straight away.
One suggestion here was 14 ... Qxd5 15 Nfxd5+ Nxf3+ 16 gxf3 exf2+ 17 Kxf2 Bc5+ 18 Ke2 Rb8,
arguing that the two bishops provide compensation but as Najdorfs auntie used to say, better one
pawn more than one pawn less, old chap. Here after 19 b4 Bf8 (or 19 ... Bd6 20 Nb5) 20 Rhd1 (or 20
c4) 20 ... Bd7 21 c4, Black has a technically lost ending, according to Kasparov.
The strongest move, and one which seems to equalize, is Zukertorts suggestion in Chess Monthly: 14
... Ke7!, as the black king is better defended in the centre than on the kingside. Lets look at this:
Hunting the king with 15 Ng8+?! Kd6 16 Qf7 achieves nothing after 16 ... Nxc2+; e.g. 17 Ke2 Bg4+ 18 f3 Nd4+ 19 Kxe3 Qxc7 20
Qxc7+ Kxc7 21 Rac1+ Kb6 22 fxg4 Bd6 and Black wins material.
A better try is 15 Qh5 gxf6 16 Qf7+ (there is no advantage in playing 16 Nxa8 as Black can bring his knight back to strengthen the
defence: 16 ... Nxc2+ 17 Ke2 Nd4+! 18 Kd3 Ne6!, threatening 19 ... Nf4+, or else 19 ... Bd7) 16 ... Kd6 17 Nxa8! (17 Ne8+? now loses
after 17 ... Qxe8 18 Qxe8 Nxc2+ 19 Kf1 e2+! 20 Kxe2 Bg4+ or 20 Kg1 Nxa1) 17 ... Nxc2+ 18 Ke2.

226
 Here Marczy analysed 18 ... Qe7 19 Qxe7+ Bxe7 20 Rac1 Nd4+ 21 Kxe3 Bd7 22 Rc7! Rxa8 23
Rxb7 Bc6 24 Bxc6 Nxc6 25 Rc1 Nd8 26 Rd1+ Ke6 27 Rc7 Rb8, commenting that Whites position is
slightly better, whereas Kasparov considered that: after 28 b3 Black cannot hold out.
Actually, Black can improve on this by playing 23 ... Rc8 24 Rxa7 Rc2, when he seems to have
sufficient counterplay; but the analysis engines find the best line: 18 ... Nd4+! 19 Kd3 exf2 20 Bc4 Bh6
and the most probable result is a draw, which can now be forced by 21 Qd5+ Ke7 22 Qf7+ Kd6 23
Qd5+ etc. If White tries 19 Kxe3, Black has 19 ... Bh6+! 20 Kd3 Bd7, when Whites best course of
action seems to be to set up the perpetual check mechanism again with 21 Bc4, intending 21 ... Qc8 22
Qd5+ Ke7 23 Qf7+ etc; but in this line Black can keep the game alive with 21 ... Bc6.
15 Qh5+ Kxf6

Exercise: Morphy found a way to win here what is it?

Answer:
16 fxe3!
Opening the f-file is the simplest. We already know that 16 Ne8+? is bad due to the familiar resource 16 ... Qxe8 17 Qxe8 Bb4+; but 16
f4! was equally strong. It was thought that Anderssen was expecting 16 Qf7+, when 16 ... Kg5 surprisingly appears to hold. However,
Marczy excused him, commenting that the game was played very quickly, otherwise Anderssen would undoubtedly have noticed this
simple move.
16 ... Nxc2+
If 16 ... Qxc7, one way to win is 17 0-0+ Nf5 (or 17 ... Ke7 18 Rf7+) 18 exf5 (threatening 19 Qh4+)
18 ... Ke7 19 Rad1! and Black is defenceless.
17 Ke2 1-0
Anderssen resigned in view of the imminent check on f1; for example, 17 ... Nxa1 18 Rf1+ Ke7 19
Qxe5+ Kd7 20 Be6+ Kc6 21 Rc1+ and mates.
227
 An impressive defeat of the champion of the Old World!, commented Kasparov. The game only
lasted half an hour and left Morphy leading 7-2. Now he needed only one more win to seal the match.
Once again beginning with 1 a3, Anderssen won the tenth game. It was a long struggle that lasted 77
moves and his comment showed a great sense of humour: Morphy wins in 17 moves, whereas it takes
me 77. However, this is still bearable ... .
This was a great comeback by Anderssen, closing the gap to 7-3, but the following game turned out to be the last of the match.

Game 33
P.Morphy-A.Anderssen
11th matchgame, Paris 1858
Irregular Defence [C00]

1 e4 e6 2 d4 g6

Question: Hmm, I understand that Anderssen was possibly the second or third strongest player in the world at the time, but this ... ?
What is it?

Answer: I agree that to us today this doesnt look like the play of one of the worlds best players. Nevertheless, although this particular
move is unusual, it leads to a formation frequently played in those days by Anderssens main rival for the number two position, Howard
Staunton.
Black is employing a provocative move order that gives him the option of reaching what has been
called the Hippopotamus set-up. This consists of playing ... g7-g6 and ... b7-b6, fianchettoing both
bishops, and deploying the knights on d7 and e7; generally Black waits to see what White is doing
before deciding where to place his king.
This was actually an interesting decision on Anderssens part he was aiming for a closed position,
on the basis that Morphys forte was in open games. Although its debatable whether Anderssen handled
closed positions any better than his opponent, his results as White in his three games with 1 a3
(transposing, after 1 ... e5 2 c4, to a Sicilian Defence with reversed colours and an extra move for
White) were encouraging, whereas his score with the other defences weve seen in the earlier games
was depressing.
3 Bd3
Both players already had experience with White in this position; they both played 3 Be3 Bg7 4 Nd2
Ne7 5 Bd3 b6 6 Ne2 Bb7 7 0-0.

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 The central structure remains indeterminate; a whole range of very different position types can arise,
depending on whether Black continues with ... d7-d6, ... d7-d5, ... c7-c5, etc.
Note that White hasnt played Nf3, in order to keep the option of playing f2-f4; while the other knight
has been developed to d2, so as to be able to play c2-c3 and try to neutralize the g7-bishop.
In a consultation game Anderssen/Horwitz/Kling vs. Boden/Kipping/Staunton, Manchester 1857, the
Black team followed the scheme outlined above: 7 ... d6 8 c3 Nd7 9 Qb3 0-0 10 f4 d5 11 e5 Rb8 12
Rac1 c5, when they had achieved a reasonable position and went on to win after a long, manoeuvring
struggle.
In P.Morphy-A.Meek, US Congress, New York 1857, Black played 7 ... d5, which is more committal.
After 8 e5 0-0 9 f4 f5?!, Morphy was able to form a clear plan: to break with g2-g4, to which end he
played 10 h3! Nd7 11 Kh2 c5 12 c3 c4 13 Bc2 a6 14 Nf3 h6 15 g4 Kh7 16 Rg1, when Whites
advantage was unquestionable.
3 ... Bg7 4 Be3 c5 5 c3 cxd4 6 cxd4

6 ... Nc6
It isnt clear that Blacks decision to play an early ... c7-c5 and eliminate the tension by exchanging
on d4 was the best; White has gained the c3-square for his queens knight, but what has Black gained?
In A.Anderssen-H.Staunton, London (semi-final) 1851, Black tried to prove that he had weakened the
opposing structure by playing more aggressively with 6 ... Qb6?!, attacking two pawns. However, the
time lost in winning one of them was too much: after 7 Ne2 Qxb2? 8 Nbc3 Qb6, White had developed
his pieces to natural squares and his position was already almost winning. There are now many strong
ideas based on Nb5 and a knight invasion of d6. Anderssen opted for 9 Rc1 (the immediate 9 Nb5 is
also good) 9 ... Na6 10 Nb5 Bf8 (a sad retreat; but 10 ... d6 was certainly no better, due to 11 Qa4! Bd7
12 Bd2!, threatening Ba5, and the black position collapses) 11 0-0 d6 12 d5 and achieved an
overwhelming advantage. Although he played quite inaccurately from this point on, allowing Staunton to
put up tenacious resistance, Anderssen nevertheless won the game eventually.
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 7 Ne2
As weve already seen, Morphy liked to retain the possibility of advancing his f-pawn.
7 ... Nge7
The knight is rather passive here, so its reasonable to suggest 7 ... Nf6 instead but as we shall see,
Anderssen had another idea for activating this piece.
8 0-0 0-0 9 Nbc3 d5

Black prevents any ideas of d4-d5 and, after White pushes the e-pawn, gains the f5-square for his
knight. However, this comes at a high price, since the dark squares f6 and d6 are left weaker and his g7-
bishop is restricted. Either 9 ... d6 or 9 ... b6 seems preferable.
10 e5 f6 11 f4 fxe5
Anderssen again resolves the central tension (as he did with 5 ... cxd4). In general, unless some sort
of advantage is gained thereby, its better to maintain it. He could have played 11 ... a6 straight away or
11 ... Bd7, say, since the exchange e5xf6 would not be favourable for White.
Now, for his part, White has the f4-square available (even if its not as useful as the c3-square
conceded by 5 ... cxd4), while his e3-bishop gazes down the now open c1-h6 diagonal.
12 fxe5 a6
Having opted for 11 ... fxe5, exchanging on f1 as well, before White can connect his rooks, looks
more precise.
13 Qd2 Nb4

Exercise: How did Morphy reply to the attack on his bishop?

Answer:
14 Bg5!
The light-squared bishop isnt of vital importance in this position, so Morphy focuses on seizing the
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weak dark squares on Blacks kingside. Here we can see one of the snags of Blacks decision to
exchange on e5.
14 ... Nxd3 15 Qxd3 Bd7

Exercise: How did Morphy improve the situation of his pieces with his next move?

Answer:
16 Qh3!
Transferring the queen to what will become the principal battle front: the kingside. White threatens 17
Qh4 and sets up the possibility of a timely Bh6, exchanging an important defender of Blacks kingside.
16 ... Qe8 17 Ng3

This is aimed against ... Nf5. Another possibility was the immediate 17 Rxf8+ Qxf8 18 Rf1, when 18
... Nf5? loses to 19 g4.
17 ... Rc8 18 Rxf8+!
Since there arent any more useful preparatory moves available, White ensures that he has a
(temporary) numerical superiority on the kingside.
18 ... Qxf8
Perhaps 18 ... Bxf8 is slightly better, but it isnt a big improvement.
19 Rf1 Qe8 20 Qh4 Nf5?
Morphy will demonstrate that this move, which seeks to close the f-file, is inferior; 20 ... Nc6 should
have been preferred.
21 Nxf5

Question: Well, surely this represents a small defensive achievement for Black? Now the f-file is closed. So what was so bad about 20
... Nf5 - ?

Answer: Yes, the file is now closed, but this isnt the only change to the position, as we shall see.
21 ... gxf5

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 Exercise: What great advantage has Morphy gained in return for the closure of the f-file? How did he highlight this?

Answer:
22 Rf3!
The cure was worse than the disease the g-file has been opened, to Whites exclusive benefit;
furthermore, the rook can go to h3 as well as g3. Whites advantage is decisive.
22 ... Bb5
Steinitz criticized this move, but there is no denying Whites advantage and there is nothing
significantly better available.
23 Rg3 Rc7 24 Bf6

24 ... f4
A pawn sacrifice, which is as futile as any another move.
If instead 24 ... Kh8 then 25 Qh6! Qf8 26 Nxb5 axb5 27 Rxg7! (not yet 27 Kf2?! in view of 27 ...
Qxf6!) 27 ... Rxg7 28 Kf2! with two plans after exchanging on g7: one is to exchange all the pieces and
send the king to c3 to capture the leading black b-pawn and then create a passed pawn; the other is to
play the queen endgame by capturing on e6 (after Bxg7), first taking precautions so that the black queen
cant become too active.
We can see the first idea in action after, for example, 28 ... Qf7 29 Ke3 Qg6 30 Qxg6 hxg6 31 Kd3
Kg8 32 Bxg7 Kxg7 33 Kc3 etc. The other plan might follow after 28 ... Qf7 29 h3 Qg6 30 Bxg7+ Qxg7
31 Qxe6 Qf4+ 32 Ke2. White wins easily in both cases.
25 Qxf4 Qf8 26 Nxb5
The simplest; Black could answer 26 Qh6 with 26 ... Bd3, intending ... Bg6, which should also lose,
but Morphy doesnt want to allow even that chance.
26 ... axb5 27 Qh6 Kh8 28 Rxg7 Rxg7 29 Kf2 Kg8 30 Qxg7+ Qxg7 31 Bxg7 Kxg7
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 With an extra pawn the endgame presents no difficulties. Morphy first consolidates the kingside, so
that his king is free to go after the black b-pawns.
32 Kf3 b4 33 g4 b6 34 h4 b5 35 Ke3 b3 36 a3 1-0
By winning this game, Morphy also won the match (+7, -2, =2), and demonstrated the great difference between himself and all the other
chess players of his time. He was quite rightly considered the world number one, without any rival who could offer him serious resistance.

On the following day they played eight informal games, using only one opening, the Kings Gambit. Morphy won 7-1, confirming that
Anderssen had been justified in avoiding the open games for most of their match.

Morphy left Paris in the midst of great acclaim he was called the king of all kings and with that his serious chess career came to an
end.

In contrast, Anderssen went on competing for a further twenty years. He was frequently one of the three best players in the world, had a
great success winning the Baden-Baden tournament in 1870 (ahead of Steinitz, whom he beat in both their games), and was always amongst
the top ten. When Anderssen retired in 1879, he was still number five.

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Chapter Seven
Retirement
On his return to New York, Morphy was received with the same admiration and recognition as Robert
Fischer in 1972 after defeating Boris Spassky in Reykjavik.

Kasparov commented that for the first time in the history of chess a victory was recognized as an event of national importance!Morphy
continued playing just as much but no longer officially. He gave blindfold simultaneous displays and played games or whole matches at the
odds of pawn and move or even a knight, even against some of his opponents from 1857; he won all these matches.

Lets look at a game from the last informal match (back in Paris) that he played against the best player
in France, Jules Arnous de Rivire a match
which Morphy, already in retirement, won 9-3.

Game 34
P.Morphy-J.Arnous de Rivire
Paris 1863
Giuoco Piano [C53]

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3

Question: This choice is rather strange, isnt it? I thought Morphy played the Evans Gambit much more frequently than 4 c3.

Answer: The former World Champion Max Euwe explains the reason: At the time when this game was played Morphy had already
withdrawn from public chess. Arnous de Rivire was his personal friend and they played occasionally to investigate particular variations.
Having said that, out of the three times he reached this position as White in the match, Morphy chose
the Evans Gambit on the other two occasions.
4 ... Qe7
In another game, as Black, Morphy played the standard 4 ... Nf6. After 5 d3 d6 6 h3 h6, Arnous de Rivire expanded on the queenside
with 7 b4 Bb6 8 a4, whereupon Morphy opted for 8 ... a6 (there is nothing wrong with 8 ... a5 either, as in the current game) 9 Na3 0-0 10
Nc2 Be6 11 Qe2?! and then seized the initiative with 11 ... d5!.
5 d4 Bb6 6 0-0

Question: It looks to me as if 6 Ng5 would be awkward for Black here. Why didnt Morphy play it?

Answer: Both on this move and the next, Morphy could indeed have played Ng5, forcing ... Nh6, when the black knight is badly placed.
However, this is not all roses for White because he has the problem of how to defend the d4-pawn; for example, 6 Ng5 Nh6 7 dxe5?! would
give Black good play after 7 ... Nxe5, while the advance 7 d5, even though it gains a tempo on the c6-knight, increases the scope of the b6-
bishop.
6 ... d6 7 h3
Its essential to prevent ... Bg4 and keep the central tension; but it was possible to insert 7 a4 a6 (or 7
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... a5) and then play 8 h3, since 7 ... exd4?!, hoping for 8 cxd4 Bg4, runs into 8 a5! Ba5 9 cxd4
(threatening 10 d5 and 11 Qa4+) 9 ... Bb6 10 Nc3, followed by 11 Nd5, which is very unpleasant for
Black (or if 10 ... Nf6 then 11 Bg5).
7 ... Nf6 8 Re1

8 ... h6
To prevent White from playing Bg5, a move which isnt a threat, was Euwes comment, which is
true; although the move ... h7-h6 is useful and has been played many times, it isnt necessary just yet,
since there isnt a white knight on c3 to threaten Nd5 after Bg5.
For instance, the classic game S.Tarrasch-A.Alekhine, Baden-Baden 1925, continued 8 ... 0-0 9 a4 a6
10 Bg5 h6 11 Be3, which Alekhine answered with a famous regrouping 11 ... Qd8!!, vacating e7 for the
knight in case of d4-d5, and preparing the possibility of 12 ... exd4 13 cxd4 d5!. (Tarrasch actually
played 12 Bd3.)
If White tries to maintain the pin with 11 Bh4, it seems okay to play 11 ... g5, since 12 Nxg5 hxg5 13
Bxg5 exd4! looks fine for Black. Nevertheless, it is useful to know a typical manoeuvre for when ... g7-
g5 isnt immediately advisable, which is to prepare it with 11 ... Kh8!, followed by ... Rg8 and then ...
g7-g5.
Instead of 10 Bg5, White can consider playing 10 b4 (or indeed 9 b4 on the previous move) with Ba3
on the agenda, as in the next note.
9 a4 a5
This is playable, though Black has more often preferred 9 ... a6 to avoid weakening the b5-square;
e.g. 10 b4 0-0 11 Ba3 Nd7 12 b5 Nd8 13 Nbd2 Qf6 14 Nf1 Ne6 with an unclear position, R.Spielmann-
E.Eliskases, Semmering (5th matchgame) 1936.

Exercise: What do you think Morphy played in this position?

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 Answer: He carried on developing, which should come as no surprise.
10 Na3
Euwe made an interesting comment here: Morphy always brought every piece into play as quickly as
possible. To play the same piece twice in the opening was a breach of principle. Only under the
influence of such players as Rti and Breyer, about 1920, was it realized that in some cases it can be
good. The present position is such a case: White could obtain a definitive advantage with 10 Bb5! Bd7
11 Na3, planning 12 Nc4.
There is no doubt that development was important to Morphy; there are a great many examples
demonstrating this, and relatively few examples where he moved an already developed piece, unless it
achieved something tangible. In this particular case it isnt clear that 10 Bb5 is better than 10 Na3. Lets
see:
After 10 Bb5, it doesnt appear that taking on c6 is a real threat, so theres no need for ... Bd7.
Instead, 10 ... 0-0 is playable, as after 11 Bxc6 bxc6 12 Nbd2 (or 12 Na3), Black has 12 ... Ba6,
controlling c4; while 11 Na3 exd4! 12 cxd4 Nb4 13 Nc4 Ba7! is also very pleasant for Black; 14 Nxa5
can be met by 14 ... Nxe4!, intending ... c7-c6, since it isnt possible to exploit the pin on the e4-knight.
In the latter line, White should probably sacrifice with 12 Nc4 dxc3 13 Nxb6 cxb2 14 Bxb2 cxb6, when
he has definite compensation for the two pawns, but Blacks position is more than playable.
10 ... Nd8?

Question: Hmm, now thats a strange move, isnt it?

Answer: Youre right; it looks as if Morphys friend didnt ascribe the same value to development and piece activity as Morphy. This
retreat, which prepares ... Be6 without losing a piece to d4-d5, is clearly inferior to 10 ... 0-0.
11 Nc2!

This contradicts Euwes opinion quoted above; Morphy moves an already developed piece. Instead
of playing, for instance, 11 Be3 (which is perfectly good), Morphy sends his knight on a sort of Spanish
tour, but instead of b1-d2-f1-e3, as in the Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Game), the knight takes the route b1-
a3-c2-e3, albeit with the same intention, to settle on d5 or f5.
11 ... Be6 12 Ne3 Bxc4
It is obvious that, with his king still in the centre and facing a rook on e1, 12 ... Nxe4 would be very
risky; White can gain a big advantage with, for example, 13 Nd5 Bxd5 14 Bxd5 f5 and now, among
many options, 15 Be3 is strong.
13 Nxc4 Nd7
Black supports the e5-pawn and also avoids doubled pawns after Nxb6.
14 Ne3
Now it isnt possible for Black to defend both weak squares, d5 and f5, at the same time.
14 ... g6?!
Black opts to defend f5, but this meets a concrete refutation.
Protecting d5 with 14 ... c6 was no better, since after 15 Nf5 Qf6 16 dxe5 dxe5 17 Nd6+ Ke7 18
Nf5+ Ke8, now that Black has lost the right to castle, White can continue with 19 Qd3, followed by
Rd1, or simply 19 Be3, bringing the bishop in play; Black cant defend all his weaknesses.
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 Perhaps the most tenacious course was to accept the deterioration of his pawn structure after 14 ...
Ne6 15 Nd5 Qd8 16 Nxb6 cxb6, although this would naturally be unpleasant too.
15 Nd5 Qe6
The sad retreat 15 ... Qf8 provides no relief after 16 Nxb6 cxb6 (once again 16 ... Nxb6 loses the e5-
pawn); but Whites position is so superior that he can already try for more with 16 Be3, continuing his
development, given that the black king is stuck in the centre.

Exercise: How did Morphy exploit the lack of coordination among the black pieces?

Answer:
16 Bxh6!
Winning a pawn, since 16 ... Rxh6 loses the queen to 17 Ng5.
16 ... f6
Guarding against the threat of 17 Ng5.
17 Bg7?!
Simply 17 Be3 was much stronger, as pointed out Marczy.

Exercise: What is Blacks best defence here?

Answer:
17 ... Rh5!
Not 17 ... Rg8, which would occupy the queens retreat square and allow 18 Bxf6!, with the threat of
19 Ng5 again; whereas now Black is threatening 19 ... Kf7.
18 g4
This weakens Whites castled position, but ... he needs to do something; the following moves are
forced.
18 ... Rxh3 19 Nxf6+ Nxf6 20 Ng5

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 Exercise: What should Black play now?

20 ... Qd7?
Answer: Instead of submissively returning the piece, it was better to head for the endgame with a pawn for the exchange; i.e. 20 ...
Qxg4+ 21 Qxg4 Nxg4 22 Nxh3 Kf7 23 f3 Kxg7 24 fxg4 exd4 25 Kg2 Ne6, as indicated by Marczy.
21 Bxf6 Rh4 22 f3 exd4 23 cxd4
White is now two pawns up for nothing, so the game is decided.
23 ... Rh6 24 Kg2
Preparing an invasion on the h-file.
24 ... Nf7 25 Rh1 Nxg5
25 ... Rxh1 26 Qxh1, followed by Qh7, was certainly no better.
26 Rxh6 Nh7 27 Qh1! Nxf6 28 Rh8+ Ke7 29 Rxa8
Two exchanges down, Black could safely resign.
29 ... Bxd4 30 Qh6 Qc6 31 Rc1 Qb6

Exercise: There are many ways to win here what do you think Morphy played?

Answer:
32 Rxc7+!
Of course; now 32 ... Qxc7 loses to 33 Qg7+.
It was unthinkable for a Morphy game to finish without fireworks. (Euwe)
32 ... Ke6
White now mates in three moves.
33 Re8+! Nxe8 34 Qxg6+ 1-0
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 Mate follows with 35 Qf5.

On the 10th of July 1884, Paul Morphy died from a stroke in his native city of New Orleans. He was only 47 years old.

239
Paul Morphys Results
The only games of Morphys that could be considered official are:

First American Chess Congress, New York, 6 October-10 November 1857

Rd.1: P.Morphy 3-0 J.Thompson
Rd.2: P.Morphy 3-0 A.B.Meek
Semi-final: P.Morphy 3- T.Lichtenhein
Final: P.Morphy 6-2 L.Paulsen (+5, =2, -1)

Match, London, 19 July-22 August 1858

P.Morphy 10-4 J.Lowenthal (+9, =2, -3)

Match, London, September 1858

P.Morphy 5-2 D.Harrwitz (+5, =1, -2)

Match, Paris, 20-28 December 1858

P.Morphy 8-3 A.Anderssen (+7, =2, -2)

Match, Paris, February-March 1859

P.Morphy 7- A.Mongredien

Morphy played many games at various odds a knight; pawn and move; pawn and two moves; pawn and
three moves and won most of them. He also played multiple games blindfold with success.
His most remarkable results giving odds of the queens knight were against two former rivals:

New York, May 1959

Morphy 5-3 J.Thompson (+5, =1, -3)
New York, July 1959
Morphy 6-2 T.Lichtenhein (+6, =1, -4)

Other significant results

New Orleans, May 1850

P.Morphy 3-0 J.Lwenthal (or 2-)

New York, 28-30 November 1857 (Morphy giving pawn and move)
P.Morphy 4- C.H.Stanley

London, April 1959 (Morphy giving the queens knight)

P.Morphy 7-2 T.H.Worrall (+7, =0, -2)

New York, May 1859 (Morphy giving the queens knight)

P.Morphy 5- F.Perrin

London, August 1959 (Morphy giving pawn and move)

P.Morphy 6-1 J.Owen (+5, =2, -0)

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Index of Complete Games
Anderssen.A-Morphy.P, 2nd matchgame, Paris 1858
Anderssen.A-Morphy.P, 4th matchgame, Paris 1858
Arnous de Rivire.J-Morphy.P, Paris 1863
Bird.H-Morphy.P, London 1858
Harrwitz.D-Morphy.P, 3rd matchgame, Paris 1858
Harrwitz.D-Morphy.P, 5th matchgame, Paris 1858
Harrwitz.D-Morphy.P, 7th matchgame, Paris 1858
Lwenthal.J-Morphy.P, 9th matchgame, London 1858
McConnell.L-Morphy.P, New Orleans 1852
Morphy.P-Anderssen.A, 11th matchgame, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Anderssen.A, 3rd matchgame, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Anderssen.A, 5th matchgame, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Anderssen.A, 7th matchgame, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Anderssen.A, 9th matchgame, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Arnous de Rivire.J, Paris 1863
Morphy.P-Arnous de Rivire.J, Paris 1863
Morphy.P-Ayers.T, Mobile 1855
Morphy.P-Baucher.H, Blindfold simultaneous, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Boden.S, London 1858
Morphy.P-Boden.S, London 1858
Morphy.P-Bonford.J, Blindfold simultaneous, New Orleans 1858
Morphy.P-Duke Karl of Brunswick & Count Isouard, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Harrwitz.D, 4th matchgame, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Harrwitz.D, 6th matchgame, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Lichtenhein.T, First American Congress (s-final, game 2), New York 1857
Morphy.P-Lwenthal.J, 12th matchgame, London 1858
Morphy.P-Lwenthal.J, 14th matchgame, London 1858
Morphy.P-Lwenthal.J, 2nd matchgame, London 1858
Morphy.P-Lwenthal.J, 4th matchgame, London 1858
Morphy.P-Lwenthal.J, 8th matchgame, London 1858
Morphy.P-Lwenthal.J, New Orleans 1850
Morphy.P-Morphy.A, New Orleans 1849
Morphy.P-Morphy.E, New Orleans 1850
Morphy.P-NN, Blindfold simultaneous, New Orleans 1858
Morphy.P-Paulsen.L, First American Congress (final, game 1), New York 1857
Morphy.P-Paulsen.L, First American Congress (final, game 5), New York 1857
Morphy.P-Potier.W, Blindfold simultaneous, Paris 1858
Morphy.P-Schulten.J, Blindfold game, New York 1857
Morphy.P-Schulten.J, Blindfold game, New York 1857
Morphy.P-Stanley.C, Blindfold game, New York 1857
Paulsen.L-Morphy.P, First American Congress (final, game 6), New York 1857
Schulten.J-Morphy.P, Blindfold game, New York 1857
Thompson.J-Morphy.P, First American Congress (rd.1, game 1), New York 1857
Thompson.J-Morphy.P, First American Congress (rd.1, game 3), New York 1857

241