[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Count Bruehl"] [Black "Philidor"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C23"] [Opening "Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack"] 1. e4 {The interesting part of this game begins at move 40.} 1... e5 2. Bc4 c6 3. Qe2 d6 4. c3 f5 5. d3 Nf6 6. exf5 Bxf5 7. d4 e4 8. Bg5 d5 9. Bb3 Bd6 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. h3 h6 12. Be3 Qe7 13. f4 h5 14. c4 a6 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Qf2 O-O 17. Ne2 b5 18. O-O Nb6 19. Ng3 g6 20. Rac1 Nc4 21. Nxf5 gxf5 22. Qg3+ Qg7 23. Qxg7+ Kxg7 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. g3 Rab8 26. b3 Ba3 27. Rc2 cxb3 28. axb3 Rbc8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Ra1 Bb4 31. Rxa6 Rc3 32. Kf2 Rd3 33. Ra2 Bxd2 34. Rxd2 Rxb3 35. Rc2 h4 36. Rc7+ Kg6 37. gxh4 Nh5 38. Rd7 Nxf4 39. Bxf4 Rf3+ 40. Kg2 Rxf4 41. Rxd5 Rf3 {This is an example of a rook and pawn endgame, also just called a rook endgame . Even though White has more pawns, they are scattered and isolated. The doubled pawns are particularly weak, so Black actually has the advantage.} 42. Rd8 Rd3 43. d5 f4 44. d6 Rd2+ 45. Kf1 Kf7 {White's pawn has advanced down the board, but the Black king takes an active role in the defense.} 46. h5 e3 47. h6 f3 {Now Black has established mating net. The threat is Rd1 mate. White actually resigned, because the only escape from mate is to move the king away from the pawns, but then Black gets a queen:} 48. Kg1 Rg2+ 49. Kf1 {49.Kh1 e2} 49... e2+ 50. Ke1 Rg1+ 51. Kd2 Rd1+ 52. Kc2 e1=Q 0-1

[Event "New Orleans"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Morphy, E."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C53"] [Opening "Giuoco Piano: 4.c3"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 5. O-O Nf6 { Black should play either 5...Bb6 or 5...Qe7, since now his own e-pawn is weak.} 6. d4 exd4 {Now Black suffers from a nasty cramp. 6...Bb6 was a better, but still unhappy line.} 7. cxd4 Bb6 8. h3 {Keeping Black cramped. Now 8... Nxe4 is dangerous after 9 d5 or 9 Re1 d5 10 Bxd5 Qxd5 11 Nc3.} 8... h6 { Black fears 8...O-O, but now he's dangerously behind in development.} 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Re8 {Weakening f7, though it shouldn't be terminal.} 11. d5 Bxe3 { But this is a serious mistake. White can now open the a2-g8 diagonal and the tactics will be awful for Black.} 12. dxc6 Bb6 13. e5 {White encourages Black to give up pawn control of e5 so he can later use his knight against f7. Black doesn't want to move his knight, since White will have threats like Qd5, hitting both f7 and b7, but that was the best chance.} 13... dxe5 14. Qb3 Re7 15. Bxf7+ Rxf7 {Black now loses because of the pin on the rook, but he probably didn't like the idea of moving the king because of 16 Nh4.} 16. Nxe5 Qe8 17. cxb7 {Now Black has no chance of breaking the pin on his rook.} 17... Bxb7 18. Rae1 Ba6 19. Ng6 Qd8 20. Re7 1-0

[Event "New Orleans"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Morphy, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb6 8. O-O Na5 {This loses time and puts the knight out of the game. Black wants to play ...d5, but he isn't ready to castle, so his king will feel a draft.} 9. Bd3 d5 10. exd5 Qxd5 {After this Black is losing. With the e-file open White is ready to jump on the enemy king. Black had to play 10...Ne7, though after 11 Ba3 it's pretty grim, since 11...O-O loses to 12 Re1 Re8 13 Ng5.} 11. Ba3 Be6 {Black sees the e-file needs protection, but this doesn't help.} 12. Nc3 Qd7 13. d5 Bxd5 14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Bb5+ { This shot deflects the queen from the center files allowing White to invade.} 15... Qxb5 16. Re1+ Ne7 17. Rb1 {White gets a little carried away with the deflection theme, as Black might resist a little by giving up his queen with 17...Qd7. White should just capture on e7.} 17... Qa6 18. Rxe7+ Kf8 19. Qd5 Qc4 20. Rxf7+ Kg8 21. Rf8# 1-0

[Event "New Orleans"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "McConnell"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C02"] [Opening "French: Advance, 4...Nc6"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 {The French Defense has the reputation of giving Black a solid yet cramped game. Morphy favored open positions so it comes as no surprise that this is the only example of his defending the French Defense.} 3. e5 {The Advance Variation of the French Defense. White's idea is to play against Black's light squared bishop which is locked out of the game by his own pawns.} 3... c5 {Black follows the general rule that one should attack a pawn chain at it's base.} 4. c3 {The strengthening of White's pawn chain is the logical response to Black's last move.} 4... Nc6 5. f4 {This move is a mistake as White does not need to broaden his pawn chain especially at the expense of his development. Better was 5.Nf3. 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Be2 Bd7 7.a3 c4} 5... Qb6 6. Nf3 Bd7 7. a3 {Although in a closed position one doesn't have to develop as quickly as in an open position. White has crossed the line in only developing one piece in position moves. 7.Bd3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 We see the importance of Black's 6...Bd7, otherwise White would have a discovered check with} 7... Nh6 8. b4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Rc8 { Black stands much better due to his large lead in development.} 10. Bb2 Nf5 11. Qd3 Bxb4+ { This sacrifice is made possible because of Black's lead in development.} 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Qd2 Rc2 {Very pretty especially since most players would jump at the chance to win White's rook by 13...Nc2+.} 14. Qd1 Ne3 { White resigned because his queen has been trapped.} 0-1

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Anderssen"] [Black "Kieseritzky"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C33"] [Opening "KGA: Bishop's Gambit"] 1. e4 {Known as the "Immortal Game" this magnificent example of Adolf Anderssen's combinative powers is still considered one of the best games of all time.} 1... e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1 b5 {The Bryan Counter-Gam bit where Black wishes to draw the bishop away from the a2-g8 diagonal.} 5. Bxb5 Nf6 6. Nf3 Qh6 { The Black queen proves to be out of play here. Better was 6...Qh5.} 7. d3 Nh5 { 7...g5 was a more natural way to defend the f-pawn.} 8. Nh4 {8.Kg1 would stop Black's threat of Ng3+ winning the exchange. However, White would now drop a piece instead.} 8... Qg5 9. Nf5 c6 { 9...g6 10.h4 Qf6 11.Nc3 gxf5 12.Qxh5 would give White the lead in development.} 10. g4 Nf6 11. Rg1 {This piece sacrifice pursues White's agressive policy started with 8.Nh4. The important d5-square will now become available.} 11... cxb5 12. h4 Qg6 {The queen is a useless bystander now.} 13. h5 Qg5 14. Qf3 { Threatens to trap the Black queen with 15.Bxf4.} 14... Ng8 { So Black is forced to retreat to the home square.} 15. Bxf4 Qf6 16. Nc3 { Although White has only two pawns for a piece he has a winning position due to his large lead in development. Black's pieces, with the exception of the queen and the b-pawn, are all on their original squares.} 16... Bc5 17. Nd5 { This introduces a double rook sacrifice, where White will give up both of his rooks, even though he is already a piece down.} 17... Qxb2 18. Bd6 { Thus begins the "Immortal Sacrifice".} 18... Qxa1+ { 18...Bxd6 19.Nxd6+ Kd8 20.Nxf7+ Ke8 when White would have a forced mate in two. } 19. Ke2 Bxg1 {The best defense, as noted by Steinitz, was 19...Qb2, but fortunately for posterity Kieseritzky didn't figure that out. 19...Qxg1 would again allow White a forced mate.} 20. e5 {By blocking the queen off the protection of his g-pawn. White is threatening to mate in two with 21.Nxg7+ Kd8 22.Bc7 mate.} 20... Na6 {Black covers the c7 square from White's dark squared bishop. However, just when you think Black might defend, Anderssen explodes the position with yet another brilliant line.} 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Qf6+ {By sacrificing the queen White has mate next move.} 22... Nxf6 {The only move. } 23. Be7# {A forced mate by three minor pieces while Black still has most of his pieces on the board. Truly a magnificent game...The Immortal Game.} 1-0

[Event "Berlin"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Anderssen"] [Black "Dufresne"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {White is playing the Evans Gambit. Sacrificing a pawn, White wins time for the realization of the moves c3 and d4 and also obtains the lead in development.} 4... Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3 {7...Nge7 Aiming for rapid development and preparing counterplay in the center is a better way to play.} 8. Qb3 Qf6 9. e5 Qg6 10. Re1 Nge7 11. Ba3 { Black's main problem in this position is his backward development on the queenside.} 11... b5 {Black gives back one of the pawns with the hope of getting his queenside pieces into the game.} 12. Qxb5 Rb8 13. Qa4 Bb6 14. Nbd2 Bb7 {Although Black has developed his queenside pieces the most important piece is still in the center. In our collection of games you will find many examples of punishment being meted out when the king remains too long in the center.} 15. Ne4 Qf5 16. Bxd3 Qh5 17. Nf6+ {With Black's king stuck in the center White sacrifices the knight to open up the e-file.} 17... gxf6 18. exf6 Rg8 19. Rad1 {This leads to one of the most beautiful combination ever played. However, 19. Be4 was also very strong.} 19... Qxf3 {It would appear that White overlooked that his g-pawn is pinned. However, this is not the case.} 20. Rxe7+ Nxe7 21. Qxd7+ {Very beautiful! First White sacked the rook and now the queen. The idea is to bring the Black king into a double check on the d-file.} 21... Kxd7 {21...Kf8 22.Bxe7+ Mate.} 22. Bf5+ Ke8 {22...Kc6 allows mate in one.} 23. Bd7+ Kf8 24. Bxe7# {Indeed a very pretty way to end the game. After playing through this game you can easily see why it's a classic that has earned the nickname "The Evergreen Game".} 1-0

[Event "Mobile"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Ayers"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 d6 7. Qb3 {7.dxe5 dxe 5 8.Qxd8+ Nxd8 9.Nxe5 Be6 Black has returned the pawn but enjoys a comfortable game.} 7... Qe7 {The wrong square for the queen, though it seems logical. The e7-square is needed for a knight. 7...Qd7 8.dxe5 Bb6 9.e6 fxe6 10.Ng5 Na5 11. Bxe6 Nxb3 12.Bxd7+ Bxd7 13.axb3 Nf6} 8. d5 Nd4 {This looks like a clever move, since the knight cannot be captured by the pawn because of the pin. But now the game gets quite exciting as Morphy lets his king get chased around the board.} 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Nxd4 exd4 {10...cxb5 11.Qxb5+ Bd7 12.Qxa5 exd4 13. O-O Qxe4 14.c4 Ne7 15.Re1 Qg6 16.Qc7 b6 17.Ba3} 11. dxc6 Qxe4+ 12. Kd1 Bg4+ 13. f3 Bxf3+ 14. gxf3 Qxf3+ 15. Kc2 Qe4+ {Black does not have time to capture the rook because of the discovered check. 15...Qxh1 16.cxb7+ Kf8 17. bxa8Q+ Qxa8 18.Ba3 White has an extra piece.} 16. Kb2 Bxc3+ 17. Nxc3 dxc3+ 18. Qxc3 O-O-O { Black seems to have castled to safety and has a pile of extra pawns. But Morphy will use the open files to attack.} 19. Re1 Qd5 20. cxb7+ Kxb7 { 20...Kb8 The king would have been safer using the White pawn as a shield.} 21. Rb1 {A brilliant quiet move. White sets up future threats on the open b-file.} 21... Nf6 {Now White unleashes a tremendous combination involving the open file and a discovered check.} 22. Bc6+ Qxc6 23. Ka1+ Kc7 24. Qa5+ Kc8 25. Qxa7 {Now the open c-file will bring the game to a rapid close.} 25... Nd7 26. Bd2 1-0

[Event "Unknown"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Maurian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C33"] [Opening "KGA: Bishop's Gambit"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Qh4+ {This check causes the White king some discomfort, but it also wastes a lot of time.} 4. Kf1 b5 {The idea behind this move is to gain some time back by annoying the bishop should it capture the pawn. But Morphy maintains the initiative by attacking the enemy rook.} 5. Bd5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Qh5 7. d4 { With each move, White attacks an enemy piece. This time it is the f-pawn.} 7... Nf6 8. Bb3 Ba6 {Black plans a discovered check by advancing the b-pawn.} 9. Qe2 {Now the b-pawn is pinned. But Morphy has overlooked something. The White king has only two defenders, the knight and queen. Each of them can be drawn away from the monarch.} 9... Nxd4 {First the knight is lured away.} 10. Nxd4 { Now the queen is forced to leave the area.} 10... b4 11. Qxa6 {There wasn 't any real choice, as otherwise the queen is lost. But now the king is defenseless, and Black finishes neatly.} 11... Qd1+ 12. Kf2 Ng4# 0-1

[Event "Mobile"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Meek"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [Opening "Scotch Gambit: 5.Ng5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 {This premature attack allows Black to seize the initiative by continually developing his pieces.} 5... Nh6 { Black develops another piece while defending his f7 pawn. 5...Ne5 when Black would be making the same mistake that White did of moving a piece again which has already been developed.} 6. Nxf7 Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5 { Although White has managed to restore the material balance one has to be suspicious that all of White's pieces which were active before the combination have now disappeared from the board.} 9... d6 {Black clears an opening for his light squared bishop while gaining a tempo on the White queen.} 10. Qb5 Re8 11. Qb3+ {11.O-O Getting the king to safety should have been preferred.} 11... d5 { Black takes advantage of White's e-pawn being pinned to his king.} 12. f3 Na5 { Played with the idea of driving the White queen off the a2-g8 diagonal.} 13. Qd3 dxe4 14. fxe4 Qh4+ 15. g3 Rxe4+ { Black's better development has turned into an attack on the White king.} 16. Kf2 Qe7 17. Nd2 Re3 {The following play revolves around Black trying to chase the White queen from the protection of the e2 square in order for Black to seize the seventh rank with Re2+.} 18. Qb5 c6 19. Qf1 Bh3 20. Qd1 { 20.Qxh3 Re2+ 21.Kg1 would allow Black a forced mate in two.} 20... Rf8 21. Nf3 Ke8 {White resigned due to the material losses that will follow because of his pinned knight on f3.} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Lichtenhein"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [Opening "Scotch Gambit"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 {By a transposition of moves a variation of the Two Knight Defense has been reached.} 5. e5 d5 {A good move in which Black fights for the center by gaining a tempo on the White bishop.} 6. Bb5 {6.exf6 dxc4 7.fxg7 Bxg7 would be a winning position for Black who is a pawn ahead and has more pieces developed.} 6... Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Nxc6 { 8.Bxc6 The correct way to get rid of the knight as after...} 8... bxc6 { White would not have to lose time due to Black's c-pawn attacking the bishop. bxc6 The correct way to recapture since Black gains yet another tempo on the White bishop. 8...Bxc6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.O-O allows White to catch up in development.} 9. Bd3 Bc5 { Black develops another piece while creating a threat on White's f-pawn.} 10. Bxe4 {10.O-O Qh4 gives Black the advantage due to his kingside initiative.} 10... Qh4 {Once again Black develops with gain of tempo this time he is threatening to checkmate White with 11...Qxf2.} 11. Qe2 { 11.g3 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Qxh1+} 11... dxe4 {The correct recapture, since Black has the initiative it will be much easier to attack White's king with queens still on the board. 11...Qxe4 12.Qxe4 dxe4 would be fine for White due to Black's broken pawn structure.} 12. Be3 {This is the final mistake which allows Black to bring another piece into the attack with tempo. 12.O-O} 12... Bg4 13. Qc4 { 13.Qd2 Rd8 would leave White with no good response to Black's threat of 14... Rd1+.} 13... Bxe3 {Black takes advantage of the pin on White's f-pawn.} 14. g3 {14.Qxc6+ Bd7 15.Qxa8+ Ke7 16.g3 Qg4 17.Qxh8 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Qf3+ 19.Kg1 Bh3 would leave White's king defenseless on the light squares 14.O-O Bb6 15.Qxc6+ Ke7 would leave Black a piece ahead.} 14... Qd8 15. fxe3 Qd1+ 16. Kf2 Qf3+ 17. Kg1 Bh3 {With no piece to come to the king's defense all White has left are a few spite checks.} 18. Qxc6+ Kf8 19. Qxa8+ Ke7 {White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Perrin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B44"] [Opening "Sicilian: Taimanov"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Bb4+ {6...Be7 7.O-O d6 would give Black control of the center and future play down the semi-open c-file.} 7. c3 Ba5 {A mistake since Black's dark-square bishop belongs on e7 to cover the dark squares surrounding the king.} 8. O-O Bb6 9. Nd2 {Black's was te of time with his dark squared bishop has given White the advantage due to his lead in development.} 9... Ne5 10. Be2 d5 { Attacking in the center when behind in development is definetly a mistake.} 11. f4 Nc6 12. e5 Bxd4 13. cxd4 { White has succeeded in locking Black's light squared bishop out of the game.} 13... Nd7 14. Bd3 {Preparing to advance the f-pawn with a kingside attack.} 14... f5 15. g4 g6 { 15...fxg4 16.Qxg4 This would only increase White's lead in development.} 16. gxf5 exf5 {16...gxf5 17.Qh5+ Kf8 Black's king is vulnerable to attack.} 17. Kh1 {White tucks his king away just in case the g-file should become opened.} 17... Nf8 18. Rc1 {White has a big lead in development as Black only has one piece off of the back rank.} 18... Ne6 19. Bxf5 { This sacrifice is made possible due to White's lead in development.} 19... Nexd4 {19...gxf5 20.Qh5+ Kd7 21.Qxf5 Qe8 22.Qh3 when Black has no good defense against White's passed pawns from advancing.} 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21. f5 { White is relentless in his pursuit to open up the position.} 21... Nxf5 22. Rxf5 gxf5 23. Qh5+ Kd7 24. Qf7+ Qe7 25. e6+ Kd8 {White now has a decoying move which either wins the Black queen or mates the Black king.} 26. Bg5 { Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Stanley"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C33"] [Opening "KGA: Bishop's Gambit"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 { 3.Nf3 would prevent the Black queen from checking on h4.} 3... Qh4+ { A good move which forces White to move his king.} 4. Kf1 { 4.g3 fxg3 5.Nf3 g2+ 6.Nxh4 gxh1Q+ wins material for Black.} 4... b5 {The Bryan Counter gambit. Black's idea is to drive the bishop off of the a2- g8 diagonal. } 5. Bb3 {Capturing the pawn at b5 is a better move.} 5... Nf6 {5...a5 6.a4 b4 7.d3 Ba6 8.Nf3 Qf6 would make White's future development awkward.} 6. Nf3 Qh6 7. Nc3 b4 8. Nb5 Ba6 { Black develops while gaining a tempo by pinning White's knight to his king.} 9. Bc4 Bxb5 10. Bxb5 Nh5 11. Ke2 {11.d3 would allow Black to win material.} 11... g5 12. Ne5 Bg7 13. Ng4 f3+ {A strong clearance move which will either give Black the f4 square for his knight or place White's king on the f-file.} 14. Kxf3 {14.gxf3 Nf4+ 15.Kf2 would allow Black to win a piece.} 14... Qb6 15. Qe2 O-O 16. Bc4 {Black has a winning position due to White's vulnerable king and backward development.} 16... Nc6 17. c3 Kh8 {Prepares an attack on the f-file which was not playable immediately since Black's f-pawn is pinned by White's bishop at c4.} 18. Qe3 {White seeks the exchange of queens which would allow White's king to move about more safely.} 18... f5 19. Qxb6 fxg4+ { This intermediate move gains Black a material advantage.} 20. Kxg4 Nf6+ { White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Paulsen"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C48"] [Opening "Four Knights: Spanish Variation"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 { This is an old fashioned, but very solid way of playing the opening.} 5. O-O O-O 6. Nxe5 Re8 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Bc4 b5 { A mistake, which weakens the pawn at c6.} 9. Be2 {Black now captures the pawn at e4, which just opens up a serious line to the Black king.} 9... Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Rxe4 11. Bf3 Re6 12. c3 Qd3 {Black tries to prevent White from playing d4, which will allow the bishop into the game. But the queen is not well-suited to such a meaningless task.} 13. b4 {A very bad move. It was time to chase the enemy queen away. 13.Re1 Rxe1+ 14.Qxe1 Bd7 15.Qe2 White no longer has any serious problems.} 13... Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 { Forced, otherwise 15.a5 would trap the bishop.} 15. Qxa4 Bd7 { Black completes his development.} 16. Ra2 Rae8 17. Qa6 {This is a clever attempt to exchange queens and reduce the attacking force. But Black has other plans for the queen, noticing that the bishop at f3 is one of only two pieces defending the White king. Do you see the sacrifice?} 17... Qxf3 {A brilliant queen sacrifice which opens up the White kingside. This can be done because White's pieces are all misplaced.} 18. gxf3 Rg6+ 19. Kh1 Bh3 { The threat is 20...Bg2+ 21.Kg1 Bxf3 mate.} 20. Rd1 Bg2+ 21. Kg1 Bxf3+ 22. Kf1 { Here Morphy actually missed a quicker win. 22.Kf1 Rg2! 23.Qd3 Rxf2+ 24.Kg1 Rg2+ 25.Kf1Rg1++} 22... Bg2+ 23. Kg1 Bh3+ 24. Kh1 Bxf2 25. Qf1 { The only defense to mate.} 25... Bxf1 {and Black went on to win.} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Paulsen"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C48"] [Opening "Four Knights: Spanish Variation"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 {4...Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Qe7 9.Re1 Nd8 when White's advantage of the two bishops is off set by his doubled c-pawn 4...Nd4 is an interesting move that breaks the symmetry.} 5. O-O O-O 6. Nxe5 Re8 7. Nxc6 {7.Nf3 Nxe4 8.d4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bf8} 7... dxc6 8. Bc4 b5 {8...Nxe4 9.Nxe4 Rxe4 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Qf3+ Kg8 12. Qxe4 would leave White an exchange ahead.} 9. Be2 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Rxe4 11. Bf3 {A mistake as the light squared bishop has moved four times at the expense of ignoring White's other pieces. 11.d3 Re6 12.c3 is a better plan.} 11... Re6 12. c3 {The final mi stake which lets Black lock in White's queenside pieces. Correct was 12.d3 with a playable game.} 12... Qd3 13. b4 Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 { 14...a6 15.axb5 Qxb5 16.d4 would let White out of the bind.} 15. Qxa4 Bd7 16. Ra2 Rae8 {Black's lead in development coupled with White's weakened back rank gives Morphy a winning position.} 17. Qa6 { 17.Bb2 would allow Black a forced mate in two.} 17... Qxf3 { An amazing queen sacrifice which breaks down White's kingside defenses.} 18. gxf3 Rg6+ 19. Kh1 Bh3 20. Rd1 {20.Rg1 would allow Black a forced mate in three. } 20... Bg2+ 21. Kg1 Bxf3+ 22. Kf1 Bg2+ 23. Kg1 Bh3+ 24. Kh1 Bxf2 { The threat of 25...Bg2 mate decides the game.} 25. Qf1 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Re2 27. Ra1 Rh6 28. d4 Be3 {White resigned since he has no defense against 29...Rhxh2+} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Thompson"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Giuoco Pianissimo: 4.d3 Nf6"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 6. Ne2 {White has hardly developed at all but is already thinking about reorganizing! Either 6.Be3 or 6. O-O would have made much more sense.} 6... d6 7. c3 O-O 8. h3 Kh8 {What is the logic behind this move? Morphy understands that in order to attack he will need to open up the f-file by advancing the pawn at f7 to f5. But the pin on the a2-g8 diagonal would prevent that. So the king moves from g8.} 9. Ng3 Nh7 10. Qc2 { Now that we know what Morphy is up to, we see the point of this move too.} 10... f5 {Here we go!} 11. exf5 d5 {There is no rush to capture this pawn. In fact, it will sit at f5 for most of the game. Instead, Morphy takes control of the center and limits the scope of the bishop at c4, which must now retreat with loss of time.} 12. Bb3 e4 13. dxe4 dxe4 14. Ng1 {Why retreat? Couldn't White capture the pawn? With the king still sitting at e1, the e-file would prove dangerous. Try playing the position as White against Gambit, and capture the pawn. See what happens!} 14... Ne5 15. Be3 Nd3+ 16. Ke2 Bxe3 17. fxe3 { There are three White pieces near the king, but they are not well-posted for defensive duties. Black has only a knight in the attack so far, but it will soon be joined by the queen and, surprisingly, the bishop from distant c8.} 17... Qh4 18. Nxe4 Qxe4 19. Qxd3 Qxg2+ 20. Kd1 Bxf5 {The recapture of the pawn, sitting there for ten moves, is perfectly timed. Now the queen must move, and the bishop can turn to its real task.} 21. Qe2 {The back rank is now very weak, and Black already controls the 7th rank. So Morphy finishes with a nice combination. Some sources give the prosaic capture of the rook as ending the game, but according to Maroczy the finish was...} 21... Bg4 {White resigned . The point is that the Black rook is moving to f1 on the next move.} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Schulten"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Giuoco Piano: 4.O-O"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O f5 {Awful. Black exposes his kingside and opens the game when he is behind in development.} 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 { This pawn is a bone in Black's throat, and if he doesn't do something about it White will break through in the center and exploit Black's inability to castle short.} 6... d6 {But this opens things even further with Black having no chance to get his king out of the way.} 7. exd6 Qxd6 8. Re1+ {White immediat ely exploits the open e-file and invites Black to move into a nasty pin.} 8... Nge7 9. Ng5 Ne5 {Unpinning the knight on e7, but walking into to pins on e5.} 10. Bf4 N7g6 11. Bxe5 Nxe5 12. Nf7 {The pin now nets at least a piece, with Black's king still stuck in the middle .} 1-0

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Meek"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C00"] [Opening "French: Franco-Benoni"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. f4 d6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. fxe5 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 dxe5 8. Bb5+ { This will set up the first of several pins which will prove deadly to Black.} 8... Nd7 9. Nc3 Ngf6 10. Bg5 {The second pin.} 10... Be7 11. d6 {The point of this sacrifice is to create an open d-file, allowing a rook to be brought into the attack.} 11... Bxd6 12. O-O-O {Faced with the multitude of pins (at d7 on both diagonal and file, and at f6) Black resigned. If you think you can find a defense, try playing on against Gambit.} 1-0

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Meek"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [Opening "Scotch: Goring Gambit"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 {The Scotch gambit where through the sacrifice of a pawn White hopes to gain a lead in development which will ultimately lead to a winning kingside attack.} 4... dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bc5 { 5...Bb4 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.O-O Bxc3 8.bxc3 d6 Black is close to consolidating his extra pawn.} 6. Bc4 d6 7. h3 {White wishes to avoid the pinning of his knight on f3. However, having already sacrificed a pawn for a lead in development 7. h3 is out of place with the spirit of White's previous play. 7.Qb3} 7... Be6 { Given an extra move by White's 7.h3 Black wastes no time in neutralizing White's best placed piece the bishop on c4.} 8. Bb5 {8.Bxe6 fxe6 9.Qb3 Qc8 10. Ng5 Nd8 Black has everything defended plus his extra pawn.} 8... Nge7 9. Ng5 O-O 10. Qh5 h6 11. Nf3 Ng6 12. g4 {Black is better developed so this attack is premature. 12.Bxh6 gxh6 13.Qxh6 Qf6 14.Ng5 Qg7} 12... Nce5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. g5 Qd4 15. Be3 Qb4 16. Bxc5 Qxb2 17. O-O Qxc3 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 {Materially the position is equal. However, White's disgruntled kingside and Black's active minor pieces give Black a winning position.} 19. Rac1 Qb2 20. Bc4 Nf4 { The knight finds an outpost on f4 which greatly disrupts White's position.} 21. Qd1 {21.Qh4 hxg5 22.Qg3 Bxc4 23.Rxc4 Ne2+ wins the White queen.} 21... Nxh3+ 22. Kg2 Nf4+ 23. Kh1 Qb6 {The final blow the Black queen prepares to swing over to the kingside and this quickly decides the game.} 24. gxh6 Bxc4 25. h7+ Kxh7 26. Qg4 Qh6+ 27. Kg1 Bxf1 28. Rxf1 {Since Black is up a clear piece, White could resign with a clear conscious at any time.} 28... Rd8 29. a4 Rd6 30. f3 Rg6 31. Kf2 {White resigned not because he will lose his queen but because Black has a forced mate in three. Do you see how?} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Schulten"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C33"] [Opening "KGA: Bishop's Gambit"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 { 4.d3 is a move that leads to fewer complications.} 4... Bb4 5. e5 {If Black wer e forced to move the knight this would be a good move, but White has a superior option.} 5... d5 6. exf6 dxc4 7. fxg7 Rg8 {At first glance this looks good for White, since the Black pawn structure is a mess. But even in 1857 it was known that Black has compensation since it is easier to develop the remaining pieces.} 8. Qe2+ Be6 9. a3 Bc5 { All White has done is push the bishop to a better location.} 10. Nf3 Nc6 11. Ne4 {White tries to play actively with such pieces are already developed. The problem is the king, which is stuck in the middle of the board and has no prospects of castling.} 11... Nd4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. c3 Qh4+ 14. Kf1 {14.Kd1 Bg4 } 14... Bb6 15. d4 cxd3 16. Qxd3 Rd8 17. Qe2 {Now the queen is overworked. Not only must f2 and d1 be guarded, but also c4. Black can now win brilliantly. Do you see how? Be careful, though. There is also a trap!} 17... Rd1+ { 17...Bc4 18.Nf6+} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Schulten"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C31"] [Opening "KGD: Falkbeer, 3.exd5 e4"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 Bb4 6. Bd2 { This breaks the pin on the Nc3, but Black can reinstate it.} 6... e3 { It is worth a pawn to deflect the bishop from its defensive duties.} 7. Bxe3 O-O 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Re8+ 10. Be2 {White has two extra pawns, but the pawn structure is a mess and the bishops have no scope. Black now uses the pin on the d- file to add more pressure.} 10... Bg4 11. c4 c6 12. dxc6 Nxc6 { Black's superior development gives him a clear advantage.} 13. Kf1 {White has n ow abandoned the notion of ever castling. Black's would like to keep the pressure on, and invests the exchange to do so.} 13... Rxe2 14. Nxe2 { The knight is now pinned to the queen, and it is easy to pile on more pressure which results in a quick kill.} 14... Nd4 15. Qb1 Bxe2+ 16. Kf2 Ng4+ 17. Kg1 { White's position is so pathetic that the king is nearly checkmated by the minor pieces alone. But to add insult to injury, Morphy finishes with a fine combination by sacrificing a piece.} 17... Nf3+ 18. gxf3 Qd4+ 19. Kg2 Qf2+ 20. Kh3 Qxf3+ 21. Kh4 {Black resigned without waiting for 21...Nh6, which would be followed by checkmate.} 0-1

[Event "New York"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Marache"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. e5 { The point of this move is to prevent Black from playing Nf6 or advancing the pawn from d7. But castling would have been wiser.} 7... d5 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. O-O Nge7 {It turns out that the knight is better placed here anyway. Now White should have seized the diagonal with 10.Ba3, but instead Marache launches a premature attack.} 10. Ng5 O-O 11. Bd3 Bf5 {This seems to be a straightforward defense. But wait a minute, doesn't it have a tactical flaw? Can't White simply trade pieces at f5 and then play Ba3, with a skewer on the a3-f8 diagonal.} 12. Bxf5 Nxf5 13. Ba3 { Could Morphy have missed such a simple tactical device? Not a chance!} 13... Qg6 {Morphy is willing to part with a little material to maintain his kingside attack.} 14. Bxf8 Qxg5 15. Ba3 dxc3 16. Bc1 {The bishop has been quite busy ministering all over the world, but now returns home. Notice that White's pieces all remain passive on the home rank.} 16... Qg6 17. Bf4 {To protect h2.} 17... Rd8 18. Qc2 Ncd4 19. Qe4 {White tries to get some pieces near the king, for protection. But the enemy horses stampede all over the kingside, creating an aesthetically pleasing trail. Do you see the brilliant finish?} 19... Ng3 { The knight cannot be captured because the White queen is en prise.} 20. Qxg6 Nde2# 0-1

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Bottin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C20"] [Opening "Open Game: Lopez/Mcleod Opening"] 1. e4 e5 2. c3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5 { White hopes to show that Black's knight is misplaced.} 4... Bc5 5. Qg4 Nxf2 { Too greedy. Black could get good play by the sacrificial 5...d5 6.Qxg7 Rf8. The text loses by giving up control of g5.} 6. Qxg7 Rf8 7. Bg5 f6 {The only oth er way to save his queen was 8...Be7, when White just wins a piece by 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Kxf2.} 8. exf6 Rxf6 { There was still no escape for the queen, and White was threatening 9.f7+} 9. Bxf6 Be7 10. Qg8+ 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Anderssen"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B21"] [Opening "Sicilian: Smith-Morra, Morphy Gambit"] 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nb5 d6 6. Bf4 e5 { This creates a serious weakness at d5, which will be exploited by White.} 7. Be3 f5 8. N1c3 f4 {This was Black's basic idea. After the bishop retreats, Black can continue with rapid development. But Morphy has more aggressive plans.} 9. Nd5 fxe3 10. Nbc7+ {It is not the rook White is after, but the king! } 10... Kf7 11. Qf3+ Nf6 12. Bc4 {This sets up a nasty discovered check.} 12... Nd4 13. Nxf6+ d5 {What now? White is attacking with four pieces, but each one is under an immediate threat of capture!} 14. Bxd5+ Kg6 { 14...Ke7 15.Ng8+ Rxg8 16.Qf7+ Kd6 17.O-O-O} 15. Qh5+ Kxf6 16. fxe3 {The importa nt point of this delayed capture is that it opens up the f- file. Black could have held out a little longer here with 16...Qe7, but decided to grab some material instead.} 16... Nxc2+ 17. Ke2 {Now Anderssen realized that capturing the rook would lead to checkmate, so he resigned.} 1-0

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Hampton"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {The Evans Gambit was very popular during the 19th Century. It provides an excellent example of the importance of controlling the center. Eventually, however, Black found effective defensive plans and it is no longer popular.} 4... Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 { We can see that White has built up an ideal central formation, supported by both pieces and pawns.} 7... exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 Nf6 {Black tries to develop quickly, but the central pawns now advance with devastating effect.} 10. e5 dxe5 11. Ba3 {A very strong move which prevents Black from castling.} 11... Bg4 {11...exd4 12.Re1+ Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Rxe6+ Kd7 15.Ng5 h6 16.Rxf6 gxf6 17.Qg4+ Ke8 18.Qe6+} 12. Qb3 {White strikes at the vulnerable f7-square.} 12... Bh5 13. dxe5 Ng4 14. Rad1 Qc8 {Now White has almost all of his pieces in the attack. The position can hardly be improved because the rook at f1, the remaining spectator, is needed there to guard the pawn at f2. So it is time to strike!} 15. e6 f6 {15...fxe6 16.Bxe6 Qb8 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 18.Rfe1+} 16. Qb5 { Attacking the hanging bishop at h5.} 16... Bg6 17. Bd5 {Here Black igned. If you are not sure why, play out the game as Black against Gambit. Even on a relatively low level, it should win every time!} 1-0

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Bird"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C39"] [Opening "KGA: 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 {This is known as the Kieseritzky variation in the King's gambit where White's idea is to put immediate pressure on Black's f7 square.} 5... Nf6 6. Bc4 d5 { Black must stop White from coming in on the f7 square.} 7. exd5 Bd6 {7...Bg7 pr eparing to castle while adding protection to Black's kingside should be preferred.} 8. d4 Nh5 9. Nc3 Bf5 { 9...O-O removing the king from the center would have been a better plan.} 10. Ne2 Bxe5 11. dxe5 f3 12. gxf3 gxf3 13. Bg5 f6 { 13...fxe2 14.Qxe2 White has a double attack on Black's queen and knight.} 14. exf6 Qd6 {14...fxe2 15.Qxe2+ Kf8 would allow White a mating attack.} 15. Qd4 fxe2 16. Bxe2 Qg3+ 17. Kd2 O-O {Black's king will come under fire since he has just castled onto the open g- file.} 18. Rag1 {Black resigned since after his queen moves, the open g-file would win the game for White. 18. Rag1 Black resigned due to White's mating attack down the open g-file.} 18... Qd6 19. Bf4+ Kh8 20. Bxd6 cxd6 21. f7+ Ng7 22. Qxg7# 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Bottin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C20"] [Opening "Open Game: Lopez/Mcleod Opening"] 1. e4 e5 2. c3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5 Bc5 {The opening has turned into a very sharp position, and now White turns up the heat!} 5. Qg4 Nxf2 6. Qxg7 Rf8 { White's invasion is more dangerous than Black's.} 7. Bg5 f6 8. exf6 d5 9. Be2 Bg4 {This minor nuisance can be dealt with in an obvious way.} 10. Bxg4 Nxg4 11. f7+ Rxf7 12. Qxf7+ Kxf7 13. Bxd8 Nf2 {Black has made far too many moves with this knight, which now moves into a position from which it will never escape.} 14. Bh4 Nxh1 15. Nf3 Nc6 16. Nbd2 Rg8 17. Kf1 d4 18. cxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Nf3 Bb6 21. Re1 h6 22. Re7+ Kf8 23. Ne5 Rg7 24. Nd7+ Kg8 25. Rxg7+ Kxg7 26. Nxb6 axb6 {White wins because Black's knight is trapped. Notice that this would be true even if the White king were far away, since the bishop on h4 controls all of the escape squares for the knight.} 27. g4 Kg6 28. Kg2 h5 29. h3 1-0

[Event "Paris Opera"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Duke of Brunswick & Count iso"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C41"] [Opening "Philidor: 3.d4"] 1. e4 {This is another game against Royalty (see also Morphy-Lyttleton). The present game is better known, having been played at the Paris Opera during a performance of the Barber of Seville. Talk about distractions!} 1... e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. Nc3 {Given the circumstances of the game, Morphy just didn't feel like capturing the pawn at b7. That would have taken the fun out of the game!} 8... c6 9. Bg5 b5 10. Nxb5 {That's more like it! Morphy sacrifices a knight for the b-pawn instead of capturing it for free at his 8th turn.} 10... cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O Rd8 {Both knights are pinned, and Morphy now trades one pin for another.} 13. Rxd7 Rxd7 14. Rd1 Qe6 15. Bxd7+ Nxd7 {Diagram # Black has an extra piece, but White checkmates in two moves. If you can't find Morphy's brilliant finish on your own, continue on and let Gambit show you. Either way, it is a pleasant sight!} 16. Qb8+ Nxb8 17. Rd8# 1-0

[Event "Blindfold Game"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Carr"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B00"] [Opening "King's Pawn"] 1. e4 h6 2. d4 a5 {A time-honored strategy when playing against a blindfolded opponent is to adopt an obscure, and often bad, opening, in the hope of creating confusion. It is a bad idea, and rarely works!} 3. Bd3 b6 4. Ne2 e6 5. O-O Ba6 6. c4 Nf6 7. e5 Nh7 8. f4 {White has superior development and complete domination of the center. Morphy hardly seems to be confused by his opponent's ridiculous opening strategy.} 8... Be7 9. Ng3 d5 10. Qg4 O-O { This is knows as "castling into it".} 11. Nh5 {Suppose Black plays 11... g6 here. How could you bring the game to a rapid close.} 11... g5 { Black has little choice but to create this major weakness on the kingside.} 12. fxg5 hxg5 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 { 13...Kxh7 14.Nf6+ Bxf6 15.Rxf6 and checkmate will follow shortly.} 14. Nf6 dxc4 15. Bc2 {Everyone at Electronic Arts hopes that you will never, ever, be in such dire straits as Black is here, even if your opponent is blindfolded! Black now uses a combination to exchange queens, but loses material.} 15... Qxd4+ 16. Qxd4 Bc5 17. Qxc5 bxc5 18. Bxg5 {Black's position cannot be said to be much improved. Fortunately, Morphy does not allow Mr. Carr to live long enough to suffer greatly.} 18... Nc6 19. Rf3 Kg7 { Now Morphy forces checkmate in 6 moves.} 20. Bh6+ Kxh6 21. Rh3+ Kg5 22. Rh5+ Kf4 23. Kf2 Rg8 24. g3+ Rxg3 25. hxg3# 1-0

[Event "Blindfold Game"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Lyttleton"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C39"] [Opening "KGA: 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4"] 1. e4 e5 {Morphy's opponent is not just an ordinary citizen, but a British Lord and President of the British Chess Association. All of which is of no use when seated at the chessboard against Morphy, even when Morphy is blindfolded!} 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 { This position was frequently seen in games played in the 19th century.} 5... d6 6. Nxg4 Be7 {Black gains time by attacking the weak pawn at h4.} 7. d4 { White occupies the center, achieving one of the primary objectives of the opening.} 7... Bxh4+ 8. Nf2 Bxf2+ {It might have been nice to maintain this pin a bit longer, but Black wants to be able to bring the knight at g8 into the game.} 9. Kxf2 Nf6 10. Nc3 Qe7 11. Bxf4 Nxe4+ 12. Nxe4 Qxe4 13. Bb5+ { A powerful move, threatening a nasty pin with Re1.} 13... Kf8 {13...c6 14.Re1} 14. Bh6+ Kg8 15. Rh5 {White is closing in for the kill. The king is trapped along the back rank, so if White can get a rook or queen to the e- file and then to e8, the game ends.} 15... Bf5 16. Qd2 {The threat is Re1.} 16... Bg6 17. Re1 {The move that was set-up by 13.Bb5+ finishes the game, as if the queen moves, Re8+ mates.} 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Unknown"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C55"] [Opening "Two Knights: 4.d4 exd4"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Ng5 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 { This loses, as Black's king becomes too exposed.} 7. O-O Be7 8. Nxf7 { Now Black's king will get dragged to e6 where it will shortly die of exposure.} 8... Kxf7 9. Qf3+ Ke6 10. Nc3 {This beautiful sacrifice has two purposes. First, White gets ready to bring his queen rook into the fight, and second, Black's d- pawn is drawn away from its post keeping the d-file closed. Black can't decline, since d5 is attacked.} 10... dxc3 11. Re1+ Ne5 12. Bf4 Bf6 13. Bxe5 Bxe5 14. Rxe5+ {Now it will be White's rook, queen and bishop against Black's bare king, not a fair fight.} 14... Kxe5 15. Re1+ Kd4 16. Bxd5 { Black's king has nowhere to run to.} 16... Re8 17. Qd3+ Kc5 18. b4+ { Not 18.Qxc3+ Kd6. Now 18...Kd6 allows 19.Bf3 mate.} 18... Kxb4 { 18...Kb6 19.Qd4+ Ka6 20.b5+ with a mate similar to the game.} 19. Qc4+ Ka5 20. Qxc3+ Ka4 21. Qb3+ Ka5 22. Qa3+ Kb5 23. Rb1# 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Anderssen"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B01"] [Opening "Scandinavian: 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3"] 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 e5 {A mistake since opening up the position will favor the side who is better developed and in this case it's to White's advantage. 4...Nf6} 5. dxe5 Qxe5+ 6. Be2 Bb4 7. Nf3 {White shows a deep understanding of the position. By giving up a pawn he will gain the advantage of having his pieces developed.} 7... Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qxc3+ 9. Bd2 Qc5 10. Rb1 { White has developed four pieces to Black's one due to the sacrificed pawn.} 10... Nc6 11. O-O Nf6 12. Bf4 O-O {12...Nd5 would allow White to win a piece.} 13. Bxc7 {White stands much better since he has regained his sacrificed pawn while keeping his lead in development.} 13... Nd4 14. Qxd4 Qxc7 {14...Qxc2 With the idea of attacking both bishops would backfire after 15.Bc4 when White hangs on to his extra piece.} 15. Bd3 Bg4 16. Ng5 Rfd8 { 16...Bh5 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Bg6 19.Qxb7 when White is a pawn ahead.} 17. Qb4 { 17.Bxh7+ Nxh7 18.Qxg4 Nxg5 19.Qxg5 Qxc2 20.Rxb7 Qxa2 allows Black to keep the material even.} 17... Bc8 {A sad move but the only move that allows Black to keep the material balance. 17...b6 18.Nxh7 Nxh7 19.Qxg4 17...Rab8 18.Nxh7 Nxh7 19.Qxg4} 18. Rfe1 {White has a big advantage due to his better development.} 18... a5 19. Qe7 Qxe7 {19...Rd7 Here White has a forced mate in two.} 20. Rxe7 {The exchange of queens has increased White's advantage due to his rook being on the seventh rank.} 20... Nd5 { 20...Rf8 21.Bc4 would force Black to part with his f-pawn.} 21. Bxh7+ { 21.Rxf7 h6 when Black would win material because of the double attack on both the White rook on f7 and the knight on g5.} 21... Kh8 22. Rxf7 Nc3 23. Re1 Nxa2 24. Rf4 { With the idea of catching the Black king in a mating net after a future Rh4.} 24... Ra6 25. Bd3 {Black resigned since the further loss of material is unavoidable. White threatens 25.Nf7+ winning the rook on e8 and 25.Bxa6.} 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Jounoud"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B21"] [Opening "Sicilian: Smith-Morra, Morphy Gambit"] 1. e4 c5 2. d4 {An early example of the Smith-Morra Gambit.} 2... cxd4 3. Nf3 { Better is 3.c3 at once.} 3... e5 {Suppose White takes the pawn at e5.} 4. Bc4 Be7 5. c3 d6 6. Qb3 {There isn't anything to be done about the pawn at f7, because 6...Nh6 will be met by 7.Bxh6.} 6... dxc3 7. Bxf7+ Kf8 8. Nxc3 Nc6 9. Bxg8 Rxg8 10. O-O { Don't be confused! Black is not castled, and the king is vulnerable.} 10... Qe8 11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 Be6 13. Nd5 h6 {Now all White has to do is blast open the f-file and victory is his. The method is easy to find!} 14. f4 Qd7 { 14...hxg5 15.fxg5+ Bf7 16.Nc7 Qe7 17.Nxa8 Ke8 18.Rxf7 Qxf7 19.Nc7+ Ke7 20. Qxb7 Black will not survive.} 15. fxe5+ Ke8 { Now the Black queen is overworked, having to defend both c7 and e6.} 16. Nc7+ Qxc7 17. Qxe6+ 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "de Riviere"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 {For the sacrificed pawn White has obtained a lead in development.} 9. Nc3 {The development of the queen knight in this position was a Morphy specialty. 9. d5 was favored by another great attacking player: Adolf Anderssen.} 9... Qf6 {Black's idea is to put pressure on the White d-pawn. However, this is a mistake since the Black queen will be subject to attack on f6.} 10. Nd5 Qg6 { 10...Qd8 Admitting that his last move was a mistake was Black's best move.} 11. Nf4 Qf6 12. e5 {White is able to open up the position for the attack due to the unfortunate position of the Black queen.} 12... dxe5 13. dxe5 Qf5 14. e6 f6 {Black desperately tries to keep the e-file closed. 14...fxe6 15.Nxe6 Bxe6 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17.Re1 Black's queen is been trapped due to the pin on the e- file.} 15. Nh4 Qc5 16. Be3 {As so often happens when one player has a lead in development it transfers itself into a direct attack on the enemy king.} 16... Qg5 {16...Qxc4 17.Qh5+ g6 18.Nhxg6 With a quick mate to follow.} 17. Nf3 Qa5 18. Bxb6 Qxb6 19. Nd5 {White's constant theme in this game has been to constantly gain time at the Black queen's expense.} 19... Qa5 20. Nd2 Nd4 21. Nb3 Nxb3 22. axb3 Qc5 23. Qh5+ {Black's backward development with his king remaining in the center gives White a winning attack.} 23... Kd8 { 23...g6 would allow White a winning combination.} 24. Rad1 {Black resigned because he has no good defense to the discovered check on the d-file.} 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Anderssen"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [Opening "Spanish: Berlin, 4.d4"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 {4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 with a kingside pawn majority, is more commonly seen today.} 4... Nxd4 {4...exd4} 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 c6 { A mistake which allows White a lead in development. Better was 6...Nd5.} 7. O-O {7.exf6 Qa5+ 8.Bd2 Qxb5 9.Qe2+ Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 gxf6} 7... cxb5 8. Bg5 {Morphy, re cognizing the importance of development, continues to bring his forces into the game, not wasting time on captures that can wait. The pin on the knight at f6 is not going anywhere.} 8... Be7 {8...h6 9.exf6 hxg5 10.Re1+ Be7 11.Rxe7+ Kf8 12.Qxd4 would be suicidal for Black.} 9. exf6 Bxf6 10. Re1+ Kf8 { Due to White's imaginative play Black has lost his right to castle.} 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. c3 d5 13. cxd4 Be6 14. Nc3 {White has the better position despite his pawn minus this is due to his better development.} 14... a6 15. Re5 Rd8 16. Qb3 Qe7 17. Rae1 {A very strong developing move and one which the amateur should take note as Black's d-pawn isn't going anywhere.} 17... g5 {The final mistake which fatally weakens Black's kingside. 17...g6 Creating a flight square for the king without weakening the f5 and h5 squares would have been a better plan. .} 18. Qd1 Qf6 19. R1e3 Rg8 {An oversight which costs Black material.} 20. Rxe6 {Black resigned since material loss is unavoidable after 20...fxe6 21. Rf3 pinning Black's queen to his king.} 1-0

[Event "Blindfold Game"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Cunningham"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C23"] [Opening "Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Qe7 {This seems nable, but even at the time it was known that 6...d5 was the correct move.} 7. O-O Ng8 {7...Ng4 8.h3 Ngxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.cxd4 Nxc4 11.Re1} 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. d5 {White's control of the center is absolute. From such a position it is easy to win, because Black has no room to maneuver, and will be unable to complete development.} 9... Qc5 {9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Re1} 10. Na3 Nd4 11. Be3 { The pin is not the real problem for Black. It is that he must now part with one of his only developed pieces.} 11... Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Qf8 { This is no place for a lady!} 13. Bxb6 axb6 {Now Black has no developed pieces. White has almost all of the forces in the game. The end cannot be far off.} 14. Nb5 Kd8 15. Rac1 {White occupies the open file and takes aim at c7.} 15... d6 16. exd6 cxd6 17. Qe3 Ra6 {Morphy now puts on a display of his impressive talents. The Black king has almost no maneuvering room. First, he employs a discovered attack on the rook at a6.} 18. Nc7 Qe7 { 18...Kxc7 19.Bxa6+ would be a deadly discovered check.} 19. Ne6+ { White will exchange this knight for the rook at a6.} 19... fxe6 20. Bxa6 Bd7 { Keeping in mind the possibility of Qxb6+, White now adds to the pressure.} 21. Bb5 Ke8 {21...Bxb5 22.Qxb6+ Ke8 23.Qxb5+ Kf7 24.dxe6+ Qxe6 25.Rfe1} 22. dxe6 Nf6 {The pawn cannot be captured because of the pin on the bishop at d7.} 23. Rc8+ {One final exploitation of the pin at d7!} 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Budzinsky"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C33"] [Opening "KGA: Bishop's Gambit, Bledow, 4.Bxd5"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 d5 4. Bxd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. d3 {This creates a pin at c3. Because the knight cannot move, the bishop at d5 and pawn at e4 have less support.} 6... Nxd5 7. exd5 O-O 8. Qf3 Re8+ 9. Nge2 {A second pin is added, this time along the e-file. Remember that the knight is not really protected by its colleague at c3, because that piece is also pinned by the bishop at b4.} 9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qh4+ 11. g3 Bg4 {Black exploits the pin on e2 by adding one at f3. If the queen moves, then Black wins material by capturing first at g3, then at e2. White actually resigned here, but let's consider what might have happened.} 12. Qf2 fxg3 13. Qg2 { 13.hxg3 Qxh1+ shows yet another pin being exploited, this time on the h- file!} 13... Rxe2+ 14. Qxe2 Bxe2 15. Kxe2 g2 16. Rg1 Qxh2 17. Be3 Nd7 { and Black will win easily, perhaps setting up yet another pin on the e-file.} 0-1

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Laroche"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 Nf6 { This is bad since White will kick the knight around and gain time.} 7. dxe5 Ng4 {7...Nxe4 8.Qd5} 8. Bg5 {Now Black must let his kingside get opened up.} 8... f6 {8...Ne7 9.h3 Nh6 10.Bxh6} 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. e5 h6 {Trying to break the pin in order not to lose a piece, but he allows something even worse.} 11. exf6 hxg5 12. fxg7 {Now the pawn will win Black's rook, since the bishop controls the promotion square.} 12... Qe7+ 13. Qe2 1-0

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Lowenthal"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {This pawn sacrifice was invented in 1824 by the English chessplayer Captain William Davis Evans, and his name has been retained in the name of the gambit.} 4... Bxb4 {By sacrificing a pawn White gains time to storm the center with his pawns by playing 5.c3 and 6.d4.} 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. d5 {Although this move closes the light squared bishops diagonal it has the advantage of disorganizing Black's game.} 9... Ne5 {9...Na5 10.Bb2 Nxc4 11.Qa4+ Bd7 12.Qxc4 would give White good play on the a1-h8 diagonal.} 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. Bb5+ { 12.Qh5 Trying to win the e-pawn would fail after 12...Bd4} 12... Bd7 13. Bxd7+ Kxd7 14. Qg4+ {Thanks to White's forceful play he now not only wins back his sacrificed pawn but gains another pawn while maintaining his attack.} 14... f5 {14...Ke8 15.Qxg7 Qf6 16.Bxe5 wins Black's rook.} 15. Qxf5+ Ke8 16. Bxe5 { With Black's king in the center White wishes to attack and so naturally avoids the simplifications that would have followed 16.Qxe5. 16.Qxe5 Qxe5 17.Bxe5 Kf7 would still be good for White.} 16... Nh6 17. Qf4 Kd7 { Black tries to connect his rooks in a rather artificial manner.} 18. Nd2 { 18.Nc3 Rae8 Black has trapped White's bishop.} 18... Rae8 19. Nc4 Bc5 { With the idea of playing Bd6 strengthening the defense of his c-pawn.} 20. Rad1 Bd6 21. Bxd6 cxd6 22. Rb1 { With the idea of bringing both rooks in on the queenside offensive.} 22... b6 23. Rfc1 Qf6 24. Qe3 Ng4 25. Nxb6+ {Very pretty! White clears two open files for his major pieces to attack the Black king.} 25... axb6 26. Rc7+ { An ingenious move which utilizes the open c-file to it's full extent.} 26... Kd8 {26...Kxc7 27.Qxb6+ Kd7 28.Qa7+ Kc8 29.Rb8+ Mate.} 27. Qxb6 Qxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Nxf2 29. Ra7 {With the help of the open b-file White regains his piece due to the mate threat on b8.} 29... Nh3+ 30. gxh3 Kc8 31. Kf2 {Black resigned as he can't stop White from bringing his king to e3 to protect the pawn followed by the advance of the a-pawn and doubling of the rooks on the 7th. 31.Kf2 Rhf8+ 32.Ke3 h6 33.a4 g6 34.a5 h5 35.a6 g5 36.Rbb7 h4 37.Ra8+ Mates.} 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Mongredien"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {The Evans gambit where White sacrifices a pawn with the idea of building a strong center.} 4... Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 O-O {7...exd4 8.Ba3 d6 9.e5 Ne4 10.Re1 Nxc3 11.exd6+ Kd7 12. Ne5+ Nxe5 13.Qxd4 f6 14.Nxc3 White has a winning position due to the exposed} 8. d5 {An instructive mistake since White wishes to develop with gain of tempo. By locking the center White keeps his own pieces out of the attack. 8.dxe5 Nxe4 9. Bd5 Nc5 10.Ng5 Qe7 would leave Black better developed.} 8... Ne7 9. Qd3 { 9.Nxe5 d6 10.Nf3 Nxe4 11.Qd4 leaves White with a little compensation for the lost pawn.} 9... d6 { Black prepares to finish his development while consolidating his extra pawn.} 10. h3 Ng6 11. Nh2 Nh5 {The Black knights head for the outpost at f4.} 12. Bb3 Nhf4 13. Bxf4 Nxf4 14. Qf3 f5 { Following the rule that one should attack the pawn chain starting at its base.} 15. exf5 Bxf5 { Black's extra pawn and better development give him a winning position.} 16. g4 {This premature advance weakens the kingside and hastens the end.} 16... Bd3 17. Qe3 {17.Re1 Ne2+ 18.Rxe2 Rxf3} 17... Bb6 {Instead of capturing the rook straight away Black improves the placement of his pieces.} 18. Qd2 Qh4 { White resigned as he is defenseless against Black's kingside attack. If you don't see how, play it out against Gambit.} 0-1

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Steinitz"] [Black "Hirschfeld"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C39"] [Opening "KGA: 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 { With this move White chooses the Kieseritzky variation of the King's Gambit.} 4... g4 5. Ne5 Bg7 {This move is a mistake as it allows White to build up his center. Better was attacking White's pawn at e4 immediately with 5...Nf6.} 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O { 7...d5 Blocking the White bishop out at c4 should be preferred.} 8. Nc3 d6 9. Nxf7 {With this move White not only obtains a rook and two pawns for his two minor pieces but more importantly he exposes the Black king to an attack.} 9... Rxf7 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Bxf4 Kg8 12. O-O Nh5 13. g3 {13.Bg5 Not delaying the opening of the f-file while attacking Black's queen was also possible.} 13... Nc6 14. Ne2 {Although material is even as White has a rook and pawn for the two pieces. White's position is superior since he controls the central squares with his pawns which keeps Black's pieces inactive.} 14... Qe7 15. Qd3 Bd7 16. Bg5 {With this move White not only attacks the Black queen but he also opens the f-file for his rook.} 16... Bf6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Nf4 Qxe4 { This move is an oversight which allows White to win at least a piece.} 19. Nh5 {Black resigned. If 19...Qxd3 then 20.Nxf6+ followed by 21.cxd3 leaves White a piece ahead.} 1-0

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Steinitz"] [Black "Mongredien"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B06"] [Opening "Modern: 3.c3"] 1. e4 g6 {The so-called "Modern Defense". Quite old, actually!} 2. d4 Bg7 { What is so "modern" about this opening? The reader may well wonder, since the early fianchetto was routinely employed by Mongredien in the mid 19th Century.} 3. c3 b6 4. Be3 Bb7 5. Nd2 {The problem with Black's approach at that time is that it acted as if White were not a participant in the game. Here Steinitz erects a solid center with plenty of support, and he does not overextend, so Black has no targets.} 5... d6 6. Ngf3 e5 7. dxe5 {Steinitz reso lutely avoids advances which might provide targets for Black's pieces. 7.d5 c6 8.c4 Ne7 9. Be2 f5 gives Black good counterplay.} 7... dxe5 8. Bc4 Ne7 9. Qe2 {White contro ls a lot of squares and is about to take the d-file, after which the Black queen can be embarassed.} 9... O-O 10. h4 {The general rule is that one reacts to flank activity with a counter- thrust in the centre, but here Black has nothing to do in the middle of the board.} 10... Nd7 11. h5 Nf6 12. hxg6 { 12.Nxe5 Nxh5 13.Nxf7 Rxf7 14.Rxh5 gxh5 15.Qxh5 Qf8 16.O-O-O b5 17.Rh1 h6} 12... Nxg6 {12...hxg6 13.Nxe5} 13. O-O-O c5 { Black does not appreciate the danger he is in on the kingside.} 14. Ng5 a6 { This slow plan to dislocate the bishop has no chance of success.} 15. Nxh7 { The beginning of a decisive combination.} 15... Nxh7 16. Rxh7 Kxh7 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Rh1 {18.Qxg6 Qf6!} 18... Re8 {The only way to avoid mate at h7.} 19. Qxg6 Qf6 20. Bxf7+ { Now that the rook has been displaced from f7, this brings the game to a close.} 20... Qxf7 21. Rh8+ Kxh8 22. Qxf7 1-0

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Steinitz"] [Black "Deacon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C39"] [Opening "KGA: 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 {Black accepts the gambit pawn. But what does White gain from this? The f-file is now open for White's rook after castling. White also has an abundance of central pawns.} 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 {This move introduces the Kieseritzky and Allgaier variations to the King's Gambit.} 4... g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 { 5...Bg7 6.d4 would leave White in control of the center.} 6. Bc4 d5 { The only move to block White's attack on the f7 pawn.} 7. exd5 Bd6 8. d4 Nh5 9. Nc3 Qe7 {This move is a mistake as it breaks the opening rule that one should not develop the queen before castling. 9...O-O getting the king out of the center was a better move.} 10. Bb5+ c6 {This move leads to Black's defeat due to tactics on the a4-e8 diagonal. 10...Bd7 11.Qxg4 when Black's light squared bishop is unable to capture the White queen due to White's control of the a4-e8 diagonal. 10...Kf8 perhaps is the best move although Black's king would not be very safe on the semi-open f-file.} 11. dxc6 bxc6 12. Nd5 {Initiates a beautiful combination made possible by White's light squared bishop pinning Black's c-pawn.} 12... Qe6 13. Nc7+ {A clearance sacrifice which opens the a2-g8 diagonal for White's light squared bishop.} 13... Bxc7 14. Bc4 Qe7 15. Bxf7+ Kf8 16. Bxh5 { White has a won game due to the exposed position of Black's king.} 16... Bxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe5+ 18. Qe2 Qxh5 { 18...Qxe2+ 19.Kxe2 when Black has no way of preventing the loss of his f- pawn. } 19. Bxf4 {White is a piece down but Black's exposed king and backward development give White a winning initiative.} 19... Bf5 { Black tries to block the f-file leading to his king, but it is too late.} 20. O-O Nd7 21. Bh6+ {A decoy move which aims at driving Black's queen from the protection of his bishop.} 21... Kf7 { White now has a combination that wins Black's queen.} 22. Rxf5+ Qxf5 23. Rf1 Qxf1+ 24. Qxf1+ {Although Black has two rooks for the queen his position is lost because of his open King's position.} 24... Kg6 25. Bg5 h6 { 25...Rhf8 would allow White to win material.} 26. Qd3+ { Black resigned since he either loses material or gets mated.} 1-0

[Event "Paris"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "de Riviere"] [Black "Morphy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C57"] [Opening "Two Knights: 4.Ng5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 { This double attack on Black's f-pawn is as old as the game of chess.} 4... d5 5. exd5 Na5 {The classical system of counterattack for Black. Instead of recapturing the pawn at d5, Black goes after the enemy bishop.} 6. d3 { This move allows Black to take the initiative. Better was 6.Bb5+ 6.Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6 Where Black's lead in development compensates for his lost pawn.} 6... h6 {Black drives back the White knight.} 7. Nf3 e4 8. Qe2 Nxc4 9. dxc4 Bc5 10. h3 {10.Bf4 O-O 11.Nfd2 Bg4 12.Qf1 Black has the advantage due to his lead in development.} 10... O-O 11. Nh2 Nh7 { Black shows a very deep understanding of the position since he realizes that piece play alone will not break through White's position. He prepares a pawnstorm with the f-pawn leading the way.} 12. Nd2 f5 13. Nb3 Bd6 14. O-O Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 f4 { Black has the advantage due to his active pieces and White's vulnerable king.} 16. Qxe4 Ng5 { The knight enters the game with a gain of tempo on the White queen.} 17. Qd4 Nf3+ { A beautiful sacrifice which takes advantage of White's light square weaknesses. } 18. gxf3 Qh4 19. Rh1 Bxh3 20. Bd2 Rf6 { Here White resigned, lacking any method of preventing checkmate.} 21. Qd3 Qxf2+ 22. Kxh3 Qg3# {Mates.} 0-1

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Steinitz"] [Black "Bird"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [Opening "French: Rubinstein, 4...Nf6"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 {Weak, as now Black must either expose his queen or let his kingside get mangled.} 5. Nxf6+ Qxf6 6. Nf3 Nc6 { The losing move. He had to play 6...h6 to prevent White's next move.} 7. Bg5 Qf5 {Losing more time with the queen, but White would have a big edge after: 7. ..Qg6 8.Bd3 f5 9.h4} 8. Bd3 Qg4 {The only move here was 8...Qa5+.} 9. h3 Qxg2 10. Rh2 Qxh2 {No way out.} 11. Nxh2 Nxd4 12. Bb5+ { Winning another piece, so Black gives up.} 1-0

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Steinitz"] [Black "MacDonnell"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [Opening "Sicilian: Closed, 2...Nc6"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. g3 {White's idea is to fianchetto his light squared bishop on g2 Thus preventing Black from striking back in the center with pawn d5.} 6... Bc5 {6...Nf6 would be less commital.} 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5 {A good move. The idea is to restrain Black's normal development by controlling the key squares f6 and d6.} 8... Qb6 9. Qd2 Ne7 10. Ne4 {The White knight gains a grip on the dark squares.} 10... O-O 11. Bd3 Ng6 12. f4 d6 13. exd6 f5 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 { Black stands worse due to his broken pawn structure and bad bishop.} 15. Qc3 { The White queen wastes no time in attacking Black's weakened dark squares.} 15... Qxd6 { 15...Qxc3+ 16.bxc3 Rd8 17.Ba3 would allow White to keep his extra pawn.} 16. b3 a5 17. a3 Qd5 {17...a4 18.b4} 18. Rf1 Ra7 19. Bb2 {White's two bishops and control of the dark squares give him a winning advantage.} 19... c5 20. O-O-O Qc6 {20...Ba6 would allow White to win material.} 21. h4 Rff7 {Played to protec t the seventh rank. However, by moving this rook Black has weakened his back rank.} 22. h5 Ne7 23. Bc4 { White's bishops have the Black pieces tied down defending each other.} 23... Nd5 24. Qe5 {This centralization of White's queen brings just enough extra pressure to break Black's position.} 24... Qc7 { 24...Rfc7 would allow White a winning rook sacrifice.} 25. Rxd5 { A brilliant sacrifice which exposes Black's weakened back rank.} 25... exd5 { 25...Qxe5 26.Rd8+ Rf8 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.Bxe5 would simply leave White a pieceup. } 26. Qe8+ Rf8 27. Bxd5+ Qf7 28. Bxf7+ Raxf7 29. Qe5 Rf6 30. h6 { Black resigned since he has no compensation for his lost material.} 1-0

[Event "Philadelphia"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Martinez"] [Black "Steinitz"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Evans Gambit Accepted"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 { The Evans Gambit where White sacrifices a pawn for rapid development.} 4... Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 {This move allows White to play d4 with gain of a tempo on the dark squared bishop. 5...Ba5 From a5 the dark squared bishop doesn't have to worry about losing a tempo when White advances pawn to d4.} 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 {7...Bb6 is another possibility.} 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Bb2 {Since the bisho p moves again in a few moves 9.Nc3 should be preferred. 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.Bb5 Kf8 11. Be3 would give White compensation for his pawn.} 9... Nf6 10. e5 {This move is inconsistent with White's previous Bb2 since e5 didn't need any preparation. 10.d5} 10... dxe5 11. Ba3 Be6 12. Nbd2 e4 {Black already has a won game as White has no compensation for his lost material.} 13. Re1 { Although this piece sacrifice does not work White decided to go down fighting.} 13... exf3 14. Qb3 Qxd4 {Black has his own attack on White's f2 square.} 15. Nxf3 {15.Bxe6 would allow Black a mate in two.} 15... Qxf2+ 16. Kh1 O-O-O { Now that the Black king has reached safety White could resign at any time.} 17. Rxe6 fxe6 18. Rf1 Ne4 {Black ends the game with a little combination based on White's weakened back rank.} 19. Rxf2 Nxf2+ 20. Kg1 Rd1+ { Takes advantage of White's weak back rank.} 21. Qxd1 { White resigned because of his material deficit.} 0-1

[Event "World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Round "7"] [White "Zukertort"] [Black "Steinitz"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D35"] [Opening "QGD: 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 {A good waiting move. The idea is to move White's light squared bishop to c4 in one move instead of two in the event Black plays 6...dxc4. White also threatens to capture at c5 and then play b4 and Bb2. 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 when White's bishop has moved two times to get to c4.} 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 { White has open lines as compensation for his isolated d-pawn.} 8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 {This is not the best move since the bishop on e3 acts as a big pawn while it blocks the e-file for White's major pieces. 10.Re1 would give White's pieces more activity.} 10... Bd7 {10...b6 With the idea of 11...Bb7 would keep the d-file open thus putting greater pressure on the isolated d-pawn.} 11. Qd3 { 11.d5 would lead to massive exchanges after 11...exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5} 11... Rc8 12. Rac1 Qa5 13. Ba2 Rfd8 14. Rfe1 Be8 { Black clears the d-file so his rook can pressure the isolated d-pawn.} 15. Bb1 {White forms a battery on the b1-h7 diagonal.} 15... g6 {This move not only stops any attack White might get against the h7 square, but it also allows Black' dark squared bishop to attack the d-pawn from the g7 square.} 16. Qe2 Bf8 17. Red1 Bg7 18. Ba2 Ne7 19. Qd2 Qa6 {19...Bc6 20.Nd5 Qxd2 21.Nxe7+ Kf8 22. Nxg6+ hxg6 23.Nxd2 would leave White a pawn ahead.} 20. Bg5 Nf5 { Black has a big advantage due to his pressure on White's isolated d-pawn.} 21. g4 {This weakening of White's kingside is a mistake even if the knight had to go backwards. 21.Be3 With the idea of activating the king knight with 22.Ne5 would be a better idea.} 21... Nxd4 22. Nxd4 e5 23. Nd5 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 { 24.Rxc1 exd4 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Bxf6 Qxf6 would give Black a winning advantage due to his extra pawn and White's exposed king.} 24... exd4 25. Rxd4 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 {Not 26.Bxd8 Bxd4 27.Bxd5 Qe2 when Black has an attack on three White pawns b, f and g.} 26... Rxd5 27. Bxd5 {White's bishops are clearly more active, but there is a significant weakness on the kingside.} 27... Qe2 28. h3 {The h-pawn no longer enjoys the protection of the king.} 28... h6 { Black cannot capture this pawn.} 29. Bc4 {29.Bxh6 Bxh6 30.Qxh6 Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Qxd5 } 29... Qf3 30. Qe3 Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Bc6 {31...hxg5 32.Qxe8+ Kh7 33.Bxf7} 32. Be7 Be5+ 33. f4 {Now White's king is even more exposed, and all of a sudden the Black bishops are more active than the White ones. Now Black has a winning sacrifice. Try to find it yourself.} 33... Bxf4+ 34. Qxf4 Qh1+ 35. Kg3 Qg1+ { White resigned, since the only legal move allows a crushing fork:} 36. Kh4 Qe1+ 37. Qg3 Qxe7+ 38. g5 Qe4+ 39. Qg4 Qe1+ 40. Qg3 hxg5+ 41. Kg4 Qe4+ 42. Kxg5 Qxc4 43. Qb8+ Kh7 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Lasker"] [Black "Bauer"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A03"] [Opening "Bird: Lasker Variation"] 1. f4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 e6 4. Bb2 Be7 5. Bd3 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. O-O O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. Ng3 Qc7 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 {Just compare the relative activity of the bishops! Black is already in serious trouble.} 12... Qc6 13. Qe2 a6 {White has completed development and is ready to attack. The position of the rook at a1 cannot be improved, for the moment. Lasker starts by eliminating one of the few defenders of the Black king. But he doesn't part with the Be5.} 14. Nh5 Nxh5 {White could simply recapture at h5 with a strong attack, but by sacrificing a piece the momentum is greatly increased.} 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qxh5+ Kg8 {Now White might like to transfer a rook to the h-file, but this is too slow, because Black is ready to play d5-d4 and threaten mate at g2. Then he could sacrifice some material in return and stay in the game.} 17. Bxg7 {A brilliant move which threatens mate at h8.} 17... Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh7 {Now the queen guards g2 and White can threaten the sideways equivalent of a back rank mate.} 19. Rf3 e5 { The only defense. Now the Black queen can come to h6.} 20. Rh3+ Qh6 21. Rxh6+ Kxh6 22. Qd7 { This wins one of the bishops, and the game now is decisively in White's favor.} 22... Bf6 23. Qxb7 Kg7 24. Rf1 Rab8 25. Qd7 Rfd8 26. Qg4+ Kf8 27. fxe5 Bg7 { 27...Bxe5 28.Qh5! f6 29.Qxe5 shows another method of exploiting the pin on the f-file.} 28. e6 Rb7 29. Qg6 { White exploits the pin in the maximally efficient way.} 29... f6 30. Rxf6+ Bxf6 31. Qxf6+ Ke8 32. Qh8+ Ke7 33. Qg7+ { Now the rook at b7 falls, so Black gives up.} 1-0

[Event "Liverpool"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Bird"] [Black "Lasker"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A03"] [Opening "Bird: Lasker Variation"] 1. f4 d5 2. e3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. b4 {This wastes time and weakens White's queenside. White should simply castle and get on with his development.} 7... Bb7 8. O-O Nbd7 9. a4 { White hopes to gain space on the queenside, but only exposes himself there.} 9... Rc8 {A dual purpose move-Black prepares a retreat for his bishop in case of a4-a5- a6 and prepares to take the initiative with ...c5, when White's self inflicted weaknesses on the c-file will be exposed.} 10. a5 c5 11. axb6 axb6 12. Ra7 Bc6 {Before retreating to a8, Black provokes White to push his b-pawn, which will take the b5 square away from White's bishop or knight.} 13. b5 Ba8 14. Ne5 Rc7 15. Ra2 e6 {Black prevents f5 and defends f7 with his queen rook.} 16. Nd2 Qb8 {Preparing to take over the a-file. White should probably prevent this by 17 Qa4, though his position is already awkward.} 17. Ndf3 Ra7 18. Rxa7 Qxa7 19. Bb2 c4 {Cutting off the defense of the b5 pawn.} 20. Bc2 Qa5 21. Qa1 Nxe5 22. Qxa5 Nxf3+ {White didn't notice that this was a check.} 0-1

[Event "Leipzig"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Mieses"] [Black "Lasker"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C26"] [Opening "Vienna: Smyslov, 3...d5"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c6 7. d4 { This contests the central territory, but now the pawn at c3 is weak.} 7... exd4 8. Qxd4 {White would lose a pawn if he captured with his own pawn. 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Qxd4} 8... Be7 9. Ne2 { White cannot afford to capture at g7. 9.Qxg7 Bf6 10.Qh6 Bxc3+} 9... O-O 10. O-O Bf6 11. Qd3 Qa5 {Black takes aim at White's weak pawns.} 12. Be4 {White hopes to provoke a weakness in Black's kingside, but his is a fool's errand. Even if Black pushes a pawn, White has removed the best defender from his own king position.} 12... Rd8 {Black sets a trap: if White takes the pawn he won't be able to get his bishop out.} 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Qe4 Qh5 { There is no escape for the bishop. The White queen is overworked.} 15. Qc4 Qxh7 16. Qxf7 {White has two pawns for the bishop, but there are holes on the kingside and his pieces are not actively participating in the game.} 16... Nd7 17. f4 {Otherwise 17...Ne5 would have been strong.} 17... Rf8 18. Qc4 Nb6 19. Qc5 {Black is clearly winning, but his exploitation of his extra piece is brutal. He aims his whole army at White's king before White has a chance to defend.} 19... Bh3 20. Rf2 {Now the back rank is vulnerable.} 20... Rfd8 21. Be3 Rd5 22. Qa3 Rad8 {The threat of Rd1+ is very serious.} 23. Bd4 { White tries desparately to keep Black out of his back rank.} 23... c5 { But Black removes the last obstacle.} 24. Bxf6 Rd1+ 25. Rf1 Qe4 { The threat is checkmate at g2. White resigned.} 0-1