In my column 'Champion born this month', today I have the pleasure of presenting a beautiful game by a champion who can be called William Shakespeare of Chess. Let us see what some 'all time greats' have said about him. — "He was the most accurate Chess Player" and "He was probably the greatest genius in Chess" — Bobby Fischer. Or "He mostly played with zero inaccuracy" and "He is the only player who never made a blunder" — Garry Kasparov. Or "Finest Chess player ever existed" — Adolf Anderssen.
Though nothing much has been said about Morphy by the Soviets, most of the Soviet Chess Trainers give a lot of emphasis on teaching his way of play. In the famous book 'Miniatures by World Champions', Anatoly Karpov has dedicated more than one third of the book to the games of this all time great player.
Yes, I am talking of the undisputed Champion, Paul Morphy!
Paul Charles Morphy (22nd June 1837 — 10th July 1884) was born at New Orleans in a wealthy distinguished family. According to his uncle Ernest Morphy (a strong and imaginative player himself), no one formally taught Chess to Paul. However, at the age of 13, Paul became famous as the best player in United States. In 1850s Paul Morphy visited Europe and defeated the strongest players in the world with such an ease that he was acknowledged as the Best Chess Player in the World. (The official World Champion titles, however, started much later, in 1886). Morphy's victory over Count Carl Isouard and Duke of Brunswick of France is probably the most famous Chess game. His stunning Rook and Queen sacrifice against the then British Champion Henry Bird finds place in every book on Chess combinations.
Morphy didn't talk or write much about Chess but his simple quote "Help your pieces so they can help you" is the best advice a Chess Trainers could give to their pupils. Paul Morphy demonstrated that the safety of King and activity of pieces invariably decided outcome of a Chess game. Even today, the times of Paul Morphy are known as "The Golden Era of Chess".
Today we will see a comparatively unknown but extremely creative game by Morphy. I was lucky to see it as a child, that too, annotated by master of King side attack, Grandmaster Leonid Shamkovic. I was indeed greatly impressed by the originality of Morphy's play then but I must confess that today I stand even more impressed by the game, the planning as well as the execution.
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5
This double attack on Black's f-pawn is a standard procedure of attacking 'f7'. 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 but it was a popular choice at that time.
Better is 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6 though Black's lead in development compensates for the sacrificed Pawn.
6...h6
Black drives back the White knight. 8.Nd4 ...Bc5! 9.Nb3? allows Bg4! with a powerful initiative to Black.
7.Nf3 e4! 8.Qe2
8.Nd4 ...Bc5! 9.Nb3? allows Bg4! with a powerful initiative to Black.
8.Nfd2 is bad due to 8...Bg4! 8...Nxc4 9.dxc4 Bc5! 10.h3! 10...0–0 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 'Pawn Storm' by pushing the f-pawn till it is stopped by White pieces. However, more accurate would have been 11...e3! 12.Bxe3 Bxe3 13.fxe3 Ne4 14.Nf1 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qf6! 16.c3 Bf5! 17.Nbd2 Nc5!;
11...c6! was a strong alternative as well. 12.Be3! was called for.
12.Nd2? 12.Be3! was called for. 12...f5 13.Nb3 Bd6! 14.0–0
Trying to castle on the Queen side would have led to catastrophe. For example, 14.Bd2? e3!! 15.fxe3 Bg3+ 16.Kd1 Nf6! 17.Be1 Bxh2! 18.Rxh2 b5! 19.Nd4 bxc4 20.Qxc4 Nxd5 21.Nc6 Ba6 22.Nxd8 Bxc4 23.Nc6 Nxe3+ 24.Kc1 Rae8! 25.Bb4 Rf6 26.Na5 Bd5 27.g3 Nf1 etc.
14...Bxh2+! 15.Kxh2 f4!
Black has the advantage due to his active pieces and White's vulnerable king.
The knight enters the game with a gain of tempo on the White queen.
17.Qg6!? was an interesting option. For example, 17...Bf5 18.Qh5 Bxc2 19.Nd4 Bd3 etc.
17.Qd3! would have led to a complex and unclear position.
The move played -- 17.Qd4? --, allows a stunning combination followed by an unexpected finale.
Morphy clinched the issue with 17...Nf3+!!
A beautiful sacrifice which creates decisive light square weakness on White's King side.
17...Bxh3? allows White to defend with 18.Bxf4! Bd7 19.Kg1 etc.
18.gxf3 Qh4 19.Rh1!
White seems to have guarded his King side well. The obvious capture 19....Qxh3 check gives White a clear upper hand after 20. Kg1 whereas an attempt to bring the King Rook in play with 19....Rf6 allows White to move the King to safety after 20.Kg2!
However, Morphy had already planned his final assault after the Rook move as well.
The point! Now the White King has been caught in a cage with no possible escape.
20.Nc5 leaves the White Queen unguarded and is punished with 20...Rf6! 21.Bxf4 Bf5+! 22.Kg1 Rg6+
23.Bg3 Qxd4 etc.
20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.Qxf4 Qxf4+ 22.Kxh3 Qxf3+ 23.Kh2 Qxf2+ 24.Kh3 Rf8 is hopeless.
20.Rg1? allows 20....Bf1 checkmate! 20. Kg1 allows 20....Qg5 ch, 21. Kh2, Qg2 Checkmate.
20...Rf6 21.Qxf6
21.Raf1 leads to an immediate mate after 21...Bf5+ 22.Kg2 Rg6.
21.Nc5 trying to bring the Knight for defence is too slow. Black plays 21....Rg6! followed by a deadly
discovered check by the Queen.
21.Qd3 (to stop ....Rg6) allows a similar finish as in the game. 21...Qxf2+! 22.Kxh3 Qg3#
21...Qxf2+! 22.Kxh3 Qg3 Checkmate!