Morphy vs Cunningham
240
[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
1-0
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1871
HITS
Players
WhiteMorphy
BlackCunningham
Game
Moves23
OpeningC23 — Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation
Result1-0
Date
Tags
Tournament
TournamentBlindfold Game
Location?
Round0