P. Morphy - S. Amateur
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A new, and completely fresh look at this classic game.
A MODEL Morphy game. (White's execution of his attack is PERFECT!!)
***
"Morphy's combinations usually ended
in a mate, or a reasonable facsimile
thereof. Here he resorts
to a device
rarely seen in his time. He simplifies by
a series of exchanges, to reach a
position where
the mere threat of a
simple pin clinches the win." - Irving Chernev.
("The 1000 Best Short Games of
Chess."
Game # 898, page # 485.).
This is game # 163 in the book:
"PAUL MORPHY: And The Evolution
of Chess Theory."
Copyright (c) 1993, by Macon Shibut.
1.e4
e5; 2.f4
exf4; 3.Nf3
c6!?; ('?!')
Controls the center square on d5,
but takes the best square away
from Black's QN.
[ The best line for Black was:
3...d5!; 4.exd5
Nf6; 5.Bb5+
c6;
6.dxc6
Nxc6; 7.d4
Bd6;
8.Qe2+
Be6; 9.Ng5
0-0!; {Black has
"compensation."}
and Black gets a playable game.
Another book line is:
3...d6; 4.d4
g5; 5.h4
g4;
6.Ng1
Bh6; 7.Nc3
c6;
8.Nge2
Qf6;
9.g3!,
{"Unclear."} with complicated play
for both sides.
(For a complete survey on the King's Gambit, visit the "Best
Games" page
of my
main web-site, {which
was formerly a Geo-Cities web site};
... and
click on the game, "B. Spassky - D. Bronstein.") ]
4.Nc3
Bb4?!;
Black is in a rush to get rid of
White's Knight. Yet later in the game,
it is the LONG-RANGE
Bishop that
will be the (MUCH) more dangerous of the
two minor pieces.
"A continuing characteristic of all
amateurs is that they rush to
exchange off enemy Knights,
so that the risk of a nasty knight
fork is eliminated."
- GM E. Mednis.
5.Bc4
Bxc3?;
Continuing with the idea expressed
by his last move.
GM Mednis notes this is a bad move - mainly because it terribly weakens the dark-squares.
[ Much better was:
5...Qe7!?; "~"
{Diagram?}
when Black is congested, but is not
yet lost.
Several writers have recommended
the line: 5...d5;
('!') 6.exd5
Nf6!?;
{"Comp."}
gambiting a pawn. ].
6.dxc3!,
White captures away from the center! (Violating a general
guide-line.)
He opens up his Queen, his QB,
pressures the d-file, prevents ...d5; and threatens to take
the pawn on f4.
[ Normally I teach my students to capture towards the center with, 6.bxc3,
but the text
is much sharper and much more accurate.
].
6...Ne7;
Black tries to develop.
[ The move, ...d5 just drops a pawn,
while the move 6...d6?!; {Diagram?}
gives Black
problems defending
the d6-square, after 7.Bxf4,
"+/" ].
7.Qd6!, {Diagram?}
(Maybe - '!!')
Normally you do not bring out the
Queen early.
But here there are 2
very good reasons for doing so:
# 1.) The Queen on d6 is almost
impervious to attack.
# 2.) The Queen on d6 prevents Black
from easily developing his entire
Queen-side.
Notice Black was also threatening ...d5; (A break in the center.); which White just prevented.
"Cramping (preventing) the other
fellow's development is just as just
as important as completing
your
own." - Irving Chernev.
7...0-0; 8.Bxf4
Ng6;
Black tries to unravel his pieces. (And develop ... well, sort of
anyway.)
9.Bg5!,
The best and the most aggressive
move here.
[ A strong version of the computer
program 'Crafty' wants to play
the
move: 9.Be3,
"+/=" instead. ].
9...Qe8;
Black is trying defend.
(This may be the best/forced
move in this position.)
[ Worse is: 9...Qb6?!; 10.0-0-0!, "+/" ].
With his next move, White offers
Black a pawn.
10.0-0!
Kh8; {Diagram?}
Which Black probably wisely decides
not to accept.
[ If 10...Qxe4?!;
11.Bb3,
(11.Nd4!?)
11...b6; 12.Rae1!
Qg4;
13.h3
Qh5; 14.Ne5!
Nxe5;
This is nearly forced.
(14...Qxg5?
15.Rxf7
Ne7;
(15...Rxf7?; 16.Bxf7+
Kh8; 17.Nxg6+!
hxg6;
18.Qf8+
Kh7; 19.Qg8+
Kh6; 20.Qh8#)
16.Rxe7+
Kh8; 17.Nf7+
Kg8;
18.Nxg5+
Kh8;
19.Re8
h5;
20.Rxf8#
) 15.Rxe5
h6; {Diagram?}
Black has no good move here.
16.Be7, "+/-"
and White has a winning attack. ].
11.Rae1!, -----------> ---------------> -----------------> (See the diagram just below.)
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White has mobilized his entire army!
(All pieces - or units from the 1st row -
have been deployed ... on good posts.)
He avoids moving any other piece until every unit is actively engaged!!!
***
GM Edmar Mednis writes:
"Again admire Morphy's plan: It is
only move 11 and ALL of his pieces
have been actively and
purposefully
developed; moreover, his King is safely
castled. On the other hand, Black is
playing
WITHOUT his Queenside.
Under such conditions, combinations
appear as if they, ...
'fell from out of
the sky.' " - GM Edmar Mednis.
(From the book: "Practical Opening Tips,"
page # 20.)
[ Several Masters have recommended: 11.Nh4!?, as winning for White. ].
11...f6;
Black tries to drive White back. (He can do nothing right now, with
White's pieces so
deeply entrenched in his half of the board.)
(This move {...f6} is also the first choice of many computer programs.)
[ Black could also have tried: 11...b5!?; 12.Bb3, a5;
13.a4!? {Diagram?}
White stops Black's pawn advance on the
Queen-side.
(Also possible was for White to play: 13.Nh4!? "+/")
13...bxa4; 14.Bxa4, Ba6;
15.Rf2, f6; 16.Rf2, "+/="
with the clearly better game for
White.
(NOTE: These lines are NOT
re-playable. I added them later.) ].
12.e5!,
Morphy insists on opening lines!
[ White could also play: 12.Nh4!?, Or 12.Bd2!? ].
12...f5!; {Diagram?}
Black wisely tries to keep lines closed.
Black MUST have been one of several
things:
#1.) A very strong player, capable of
seeing that if he took the Bishop on g5; that White would
get a winning attack; (and/or)
#2.) He knew Morphy liked to open
the game, and thus he simply wanted
to keep the game closed;
#3.) He had been destroyed by Morphy
before, and was simply terrified of what
the great genius
might do, if given the
chance!
It might have been this, or any number of things - or a combination of the factors listed above - that
caused Morphy's opponent to play as he did.
[ A good example of what happens if Black
foolishly OPENS lines is:
12...fxg5?; ('??')
13.Nxg5
Na6;
14.Rxf8+
Qxf8; 15.Re4!
Nc5;
16.Qxg6!
hxg6; 17.Rh4#.
].
With his next move, Morphy
prepares to break the game
wide open by the vigorous
pawn push to e6.
13.Nd4
f4; 14.e6!,
Morphy single-mindedly continues
to pursue open lines.
(This is one of the "Morphy Principles" in action. One of the things Morphy
always did VERY
SYSTEMATICALLY was to always open lines - once he
had completed his development!!)
[ Maroczy pointed out many years later that White could have played:
14.h4!
h6;
(14...f3!?);
15.h5
hxg5; 16.hxg6
g4!?;
17.Kf2!,
{Diagram?} with Mate coming on the h-file. ].
14...dxe6; 15.Nxe6
Bxe6; 16.Rxe6
Qc8;
(This move looks forced.)
It looks as if Black ALMOST has
everything under control. But once
again, Morphy finds a
combination
that brilliantly exploits Black's sadly
under-developed game.
***
I also must point out that:
A.) Morphy has calculated this entire combination out, even though it is
nearly 10 moves long!!; &
B.) Morphy may have had this whole
thing planned well in advance!
***
17.Rxg6!!,
(Maybe - '!!!')
An incredibly brilliant, very forceful,
and well though-out sacrifice.
[ Other methods, such as: 17.h4!?, {"Compensation?"} are not nearly as good. ].
17...hxg6; 18.Qxg6,
('!')
Seemingly ... the obvious move.
{But did White have a better one?}
In
fact this is such an obvious move ... that few people have even bothered
to look for
improvements at this particular point. But this move is not even in
the top three picks of
most strong computer {chess} programs here.
Going
over some old notes, I find that an improvement was suggested by (one)
Rick
Frye
during one of my 'PCC' (Pensacola Chess Club) lectures. (Circa
approximately 1977.)
But
I had forgotten all about this idea until Bjørnar Snoksrud e-mailed me and
mentioned
it again. (This note added: February 11th, 2004.)
[ In all likelihood, White could improve with: >/=
18.Rf3!! Re8!;
19.Rxf4! Re1+; 20.Kf2! Re4!; 21.Rf8+! Kh7!?;
22.Bg8+!,
{Diag?} Much better than simply grabbing the Queen here.
( Also sufficient was: 22.Rxc8!?, ("+/-") {Diagram?}
which is probably good enough to make the average player resign. )
22...Kh8;
23.Bf7+ Qxf8;
This is probably forced.
( </= 23...Kh7?!; 24.Qxg6#. )
24.Qxf8+ Kh7; 25.Qg8#.
****************************************************
White could have also played:
(</=)
= 18.Rxf4!
Rxf4; 19.Qxf4, ("+/-") {Diagram?}
and the only way Black can stop mate is to give
up the Queen with ...Qg8. ] (This
note does NOT work in js-script.)
18...Qf5;
Black must try to defend. (18...Qg4; 19.h3, Qf5; is similar to
the game.)
[ Not 18...Na6??; 19.Qh5#. ].
Now White (temporarily) sacrifices
a Queen.
19.Rxf4!!,
"Very beautiful!" exclaims GM Edmar Mednis.
[ White has a simple win with:
19.Qh5+!
Qh7; 20.Qg4!,
Probably the best move here.
(The move 20.Qd1!?, "+/="
{Diagram?}
is also good for White.) 20...b5!?; {Diagram?}
Black is trying to gain some space ...
which is preparing to (finally)
finish his development.
(The continuation: 20...Qf5!?;
21.Rxf4!; "+/-"
wins - as in the actual game.)
21.Be6
Na6!?; {Diagram?}
Black tries to finish his
development. (21...Qxc2!?;
22.Bf6!!
Rxf6!?; There is no good defense
here, in this position.
(Or 22...Qh7; 23.Bf5
Qh6;
24.Bg5, "+/-")
23.Qh5+
Rh6; 24.Qe8+
Kh7;
25.Bg8+
Kh8; 26.Bf7+
Kh7;
27.Qg8#.)
22.Rf3, ("+/-") {Diagram?}
There is no defense to the
threat of Rh3, winning Black's
Queen on the h-file. ].
The next few moves are pretty
much all forced.
19...Qxg6; 20.Rxf8+
Kh7; 21.Bg8+
Kh8; 22.Bf7+
(!) 22...Kh7;
23.Bxg6+
Kxg6;
The stage is set for a simple,
but elegant conclusion.
24.Bf4, ('!') Black resigns.
He is going to lose a piece due to the pin on the back rank.
One of Morphy's prettiest games, and
one that has withstood the rigors of
analysis for nearly 150 years.
(It was also one of SIX
{6!} games
played in a SIMULTANEOUS and
BLINDFOLD exhibition!!!)
(c) A.J. Goldsby I, 2001. © A.J. Goldsby I, 2002.
***
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
I have seen this game in literally dozens
of books over the years.
The two best that I consulted in
preparing this game are:
# 1.) "Practical (Chess) Opening Tips,"
by GM Edmar Mednis.
# 2.) "The 1000 Best Short Games
of Chess," (Game # 898, page # 485);
by the late (great) IRVING CHERNEV.
(Be sure to visit the web page I have
constructed for this game at:
http://www.ajschess.com/lifemasteraj/morp-kgamat1.html).
1 - 0
Game posted on my web-site: Friday / June 28th, 2002.
(Updated on: Wednesday / February 11th, 2004. Last edit
on: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 04:35 AM
.)
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