Morphy's Immortal Game

This is the final position in a famous chess game between the great Paul Morphy and two very good amateur players. The game was supposedly played in a Paris opera house in 1858, and is now referred to as the "Opera Game" and/or "Morphy's Immortal". The amateur players who put their heads together were Duke Karl of Brunswick and Count Isouard, but they proved to be no match for Morphy.

 

The entire game, in algebraic notation, is as follows:

 

White: Paul Morphy

Black: Duke Karl and Count Isouard

 

Philidor Defense

 

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 d6

3. d4 Bg4

4. dxe5 Bxf3

5. Qxf3 dxe5

6. Bc4 Nf6

7. Qb3 Qe7

8. Nc3 c6

9. Bg5 b5

10. Nxb5 cxb5

11. Bxb5+ Nbd7

12. 0-0-0 Rd8

13. Rxd7 Rxd7

14. Rd1 Qe6

15. Bxd7 Nxd7

16. Qb8+ Nxb8

17. Rd8++ MATE

 

Despite having a significant disadvantage in material strength, Morphy won.

The series of sacrifices by Morphy enabled him to control the game positionally, leading to a checkmate of the Duke and Count in just 17 moves.

 

Done