1.
e4
e5
2.
Nf3
Nc6
3.
Nc3
Nf6
4.
Bb5
Bc5
5.
O-O
O-O
6.
Nxe5
Re8
7.
Nxc6
dxc6
8.
Bc4
b5
9.
Be2
Nxe4
10.
Nxe4
Rxe4
11.
Bf3
Re6
12.
c3
Qd3
13.
b4
Bb6
14.
a4
bxa4
15.
Qxa4
Bd7
16.
Ra2
Rae8
17.
Qa6
Qxf3
18.
gxf3
Rg6+
19.
Kh1
Bh3
20.
Rd1
Bg2+
21.
Kg1
Bxf3+
22.
Kf1
Bg2+
23.
Kg1
Bh3+
24.
Kh1
Bxf2
25.
Qf1
Bxf1
26.
Rxf1
Re2
27.
Ra1
Rh6
28.
d4
Be3
0-1
Opening Explorer
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Site
New York
Date
1857.11.08
Round
4(6)
White
Black
Result
0-1
Paulsen–Morphy, from the First American Chess Congress, New York 1857 — one of the most famous games ever played, crowned by Morphy's astonishing queen sacrifice 17…Q×f3. Emanuel Lasker presents and annotates it in his lecture series Common Sense in Chess (1896); his public-domain notes are reproduced below.
- 7.Nxc6 This capture only develops Black. It would have been quite as good to retire with the Kt to B 3 and to follow this up, if (7) ..., Kt x P by (8) P - Q 4.
- 9.Be2 The Black Pawns by thus advancing do not of course gain in defensive strength, but Black is so far ahead in development that White will never be able to take advantage of that weakness.
- 11.Bf3 If here (11) P - Q B 3, which looks at first sight stronger, then Black will assail the castled King, which for the present is the only support of the K R and K Kt Pawn. The game might proceed (11) ..., Q - R 5; (12) P - K Kt 3, Q - R 6; (13) B - B 3, R - R 5; (14) P x R, B - Q 3; or (12) P - Q 4, B - Q 3; (13) P - K Kt 3, Q - R 6; (14) P - K B 4, B - Q 2; (15) B - B 3, R - K 2; when Black will double his Rooks on the K file and obtain a sound position with many attacking possibilities.
- 12.c3 A somewhat elaborate process for so simple an object. First, P - Q 3 was the proper play.
- 12…Qd3 This is one of the rare cases, in which a heavy piece like the Queen can with success be used for the purpose of obstruction. The Queen cannot be attacked in her present situation by any hostile man but exerts a considerable amount of pressure, preventing, for instance, such moves as Q - B 2 or B - K 2.
- 16.Ra2 This move may serve as a preparation for Q - B 2. White evidently is beginning to feel the restraint which he suffers through the blockade of his Q P by the adverse Queen. His plan, however, is frustrated by Black, whose attack has already become ripe for a decisive blow. If (16) Q - R 6 instead, Black's best reply seems to be (16) ..., Q - B 4; (17) P - Q 4, Q R - K; (18) B - K 3, P - Q B 4; (19) Kt P x P, B x P; (20) Q - R 5 ?, R - K Kt 3, with a winning advantage, for if (21) K - R, Q x B, (22) P x Q, B - B 3, leaves White helpless; therefore White's best would be (20) Q - K 2, B - Kt 3; (21) B - Kt 4, R x B; (22) B x Q, R x Q; (23) B x B with an even ending.
- 16…Rae8 The strongest move for development and simultaneously for attack. Black threatens now Q x R ch.
- 17…Qxf3 An effective, surprising, and beautiful coup.
- 19…Bh3 Black threatens B - Kt 7 ch., followed by B x P mate. R - K Kt is no safeguard, as after the exchange of the Rooks the Q R will checkmate him. Nor would (20) Q - Q 3 mend matters, as Black will answer with P - K B 4, and if then (21) Q - B 4 ch., by K - B.
- 22…Bg2+ He might have decided the issue by R - Kt 7, with the double threat R x P ch., etc., and R x R P.
- 25.Qf1 His only resource.
- 26…Re2 Again binding the hostile Q P to his post.
- 28.d4 At last!
- 28…Be3 White resigns, for if (29) B x B, R (R 3) x P ch.; (30) K - Kt, R - Kt 7 checkmate.
[Event "USA-01 Congress Grand Tournament"] [Site "New York"] [Date "1857.11.08"] [Round "4(6)"] [White "Paulsen, Louis"] [Black "Morphy, Paul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nxe5 Re8 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Bc4 b5 9. Be2 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Rxe4 11. Bf3 Re6 12. c3 Qd3 13. b4 Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 Bd7 16. Ra2 Rae8 17. Qa6 Qxf3 18. gxf3 Rg6+ 19. Kh1 Bh3 20. Rd1 Bg2+ 21. Kg1 Bxf3+ 22. Kf1 Bg2+ 23. Kg1 Bh3+ 24. Kh1 Bxf2 25. Qf1 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Re2 27. Ra1 Rh6 28. d4 Be3 0-1