Chessville - Annotated Game - Louis Paulsen vs Paul Morphy, USA 1857 - Annotated for the Novice and beginning chessplayer by Leopold Lacrimosa

Chessville
...by Chessplayers, for Chessplayers!

Today is

Site Map

If you have disabled Java for your browser, use the Site Map (linked in the header and footer).

Chessville
logo by
ChessPrints

Advertise
with
Chessville!!

Advertise to
thousands
of chess
fans for
as little
as $25.

Single insert:
$35
x4 insert:
@ $25 each.

From the
Chessville
Chess Store

Annotated Game

Louis Paulsen vs Paul Morphy

New York, 1857

with notes by Leopold Lacrimosa
Chess Coach and Editor for The Chess Scholar
the official magazine of the ASCF
(American Scholastic Chess Federation)

Enjoy this fantastic game and the very instructive notes by Chess Coach Leopold Lacrimosa, annotated for the novice and beginning chessplayer.

Herr Louis Paulsen was born at Blumberg, in Germany, on January 15th, 1833, and at an early age was taught to play chess by his father, Dr. Carl Paulsen. In 1854 he emigrated to America, and with his brother Ernest established a business at Dubuque, in Iowa.

In 1857 he took part in the first American Congress, and won the second prize, Paul Morphy winning the first. In 1860 he returned to Germany, and the following year visited England and won the first prize in the Bristol tourney, beating Horwitz, Boden, and Kolisch. His subsequent career is well known to the students of chess history. He died in Germany on July 19th, 1891. - G. A. Macdonnell

Paul Morphy was born on 22nd June 1837 in New Orleans. He learned chess from his father at the age of 10. As a result of his wealthy background, Morphy had a sound education and he graduated in 1854. His chief attraction then was mathematics and law. Of course he was growing as a sound player too these years. His name became well known in the chess fraternity only after his triumph in the American Chess Congress of 1857, where he defeated Louis Paulsen. From then on he had a string of success against fellow Americans and its impact was such that he was considered invincible by them and they even challenged the world to produce his equal. Morphy then set of on an European tour to establish his prowess there especially to prove against Howard Staunton.

He arrived in London in June 1858 and first played against Lowenthal and won with a comfortable margin of +9 -3 =2. Morphy then played a match with Harrwitz as Staunton was avoiding to play him. He won that match by a score of +5-2=1. He then played a match with Anderssen by which time it was apparent that Staunton was consciously avoiding Morphy. Morphy won the match scoring +7-2=2. He also gave some exhibitions and was waiting to play Staunton. Barring a couple of consultation games in which his team lost both, Staunton never played a serious match against Morphy. Adding to this Staunton ridiculed him as an adventurer without financial backing.

Morphy internally got crushed at this and he returned immediately to America and endeavored to practice law but found no recognition in that field. He totally broke down when a lady turned down his proposal stating that she would not marry a "mere chess player". By this time he became a psychotic and suffered from delusion syndrome. Morphy died in New Orleans in July, 1884 at the age of 47. Morphy's understanding of the principles of development and his strategy in general was far superior to his contemporaries. He was referred to as a "flashing meteor" who signaled the advent of a new era! (G Srikanth)

Paulsen,L - Morphy,P
New York, 1857

1.e4

This is considered the main opening for the majority of GMs as White stakes out his claim to the centre.

The most notable attribute of 1.e4 is that it commences an immediate fight for the center. - About.com

And it frees two pieces (the Queen and a Bishop). - David A. Wheeler

When the men are first arranged in battle order, it is seen that the only Pieces which have the power of moving are the Knights, and that to liberate the others it is indispensably necessary to move a Pawn. Now as the King's Pawn, on being moved, gives freedom both to the Queen and to the King's Bishop, it is more frequently played at the beginning of the game than any other. - The Chess- Player's Handbook

Best by test. - World Champion Robert J. (Bobby) Fischer in "My 60 Memorable Games"

An excellent chess opening move, and one that has been played with success by beginners and Grandmasters throughout chess history! - IM Andrew Martin

1...e5

Black meets White's centralization of a pawn with one of his own.

2.Nf3

A common move attacking the e5-pawn and d4-square.

2...Nc6

The best way to protect the e5-pawn.

3.Nc3

White opts to develop both knights before his bishops.

3...Nf6

The Four Knights Opening theory has changed a lot in the hundred years or so since the Four Knights was considered something of a "main line." Arising after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6, it is the ultimate in classical chess, with all four knights developed to their natural squares before any other piece leaves home. - Jeremy Silman

4.Bb5

This is the Spanish Four Knights while 4.Bc4 is the Italian Four Knights and 4.d4 is the Scotch Four Knights.

4...Bc5 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nxe5?!

White plays the center fork trick to unbalance the position, e.g.6...Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5.

6...Re8

But Morphy continues with his philosophy that development is paramount.

7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.Bc4?

The bishop should move all the way to e2 immediately.

8...b5

Here Morphy picks up a tempo by forcing the bishop to move again.

9.Be2 Nxe4

Morphy regains his pawn.

10.Nxe4 Rxe4 11.Bf3

Skewer

11...Re6 12.c3?

White wants to play d4 with the support of c3, but it is a mistake as Morphy's next move paralyzes White's forces.

12...Qd3! 13.b4

White works to gain space on the queenside.

13...Bb6 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4 Bd7

Black threatens 16...c5 attacking the white queen.

16.Ra2

White prepares to exchange queens on c2 if Black plays 16...c5.

16...Rae8

Morphy completes his development first.

17.Qa6

White tries to exchange queens anyways in order to free his position.

17...Qxf3!!

With all of Black's army developed, Morphy plays an incredible queen sacrifice that rips open White's castled king's position like a can of tuna! Morphy's pieces then begin their march on the enemy monarch.

18.gxf3 Rg6+

Forces the king into the corner.

19.Kh1 Bh3

Neither White's queen nor his other rook can come to the aid of their king as Black's bishop drives away the f1-rook.

20.Rd1

20.Rg1 fails to 20...Rxg1+ 21.Kxg1 Re2+ 22.Qf1 Rxf1 mate.

20...Bg2+

Black harasses the king in order to snag a few pawns and open more lines of attack for his pieces.

21.Kg1 Bxf3+ 22.Kf1 Bg2+ 23.Kg1 Bh3+ 24.Kh1 Bxf2

Black now threatens 25...Bg2# mate.

25.Qf1

White has no choice but to return material.

25...Bxf1 26.Rxf1 Re2 27.Ra1 Rh6 28.d4 Be3!! 1-0

White resigns in lieu of 29.Bxe3 R6xh2+ 30.Kg1 Reg2 mate, as he is helpless to stop it.