Morphy, Paul vs Duke of Brunswick / Count Isouard
Paris casual · 1858-??-?? · 1-0
Annotated by WCC
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Starting position
The Philidor Defence. Solid but passive: Black gives up central space to keep the position closed.
This pin looks natural but loses time, since White can break it with tempo.
is the modern main line.
Already eyeing f7. Morphy is way ahead in development.
Double attack on b7 and f7.
Morphy declines the pawn, development matters more.
Pinning the knight to the queen.
The second rook joins in. Black is now lost.
The queen sacrifice that delivers mate.
A model game of development, opening lines, and decisive attack on an uncastled king.
Raw PGN
[Event "Paris casual"]
[Site "Paris, France"]
[Date "1858.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Morphy, Paul"]
[Black "Duke of Brunswick / Count Isouard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[Opening "Philidor Defence"]
[Annotator "WCC"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 {The Philidor Defence. Solid but passive: Black gives up
central space to keep the position closed.} 3. d4 Bg4?! {This pin looks
natural but loses time, since White can break it with tempo.}
(3... exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 {is the modern main line.})
4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 {Already eyeing f7. Morphy is way ahead in
development.} Nf6? 7. Qb3 {Double attack on b7 and f7.} Qe7 8. Nc3 {Morphy
declines the pawn, development matters more.} c6 9. Bg5 {Pinning the
knight to the queen.} b5 10. Nxb5! cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O Rd8
13. Rxd7! Rxd7 14. Rd1 {The second rook joins in. Black is now lost.} Qe6
15. Bxd7+ Nxd7 16. Qb8+! {The queen sacrifice that delivers mate.}
Nxb8 17. Rd8# {A model game of development, opening lines, and decisive
attack on an uncastled king.} 1-0