Morphy's Grand Strategy

Early and Rapid Development

In 1846 at the age of nine, Paul Charles Morphy became a recognized child prodigy. It was in these formative years that he began practicing his trademark strategy of "early and rapid development." 

( 1837 - 1884 )

To aptly describe Morphy's play: he always aimed to seize the initiative and possess an excellent understanding in the coordination of forces. He managed to dazzle opponent after opponent with his "dynamic and power play", up until he captured the United States chess champion title in 1857 at age 20.

Morphy's "Magnum Opus"

Paulsen, L. - Morphy, P.

First American Congress, New York 1857

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bc5 5.0–0 0–0 6.Nxe5 Re8 7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.Bc4 b5 9.Be2 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Rxe4 11.Bf3 Re6 12.c3 Qd3 13.b4 Bb6 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4 Bd7 16.Ra2 Rae8 17.Qa6 (D)

17...Qxf3!!

" White cannot be blamed for not seeing the most wonderful combination that the opponent had prepared... One of the most charming poetical chess compositions that has ever been devised in practical play." ~ Wilhelm Steinitz

18.gxf3 Rg6+ 19.Kh1 Bh3 20.Rd1 Bg2+ 21.Kg1 Bxf3+ 22.Kf1 Bg2+ 23.Kg1 Bh3+ 24.Kh1 Bxf2 25.Qf1 Bxf1 26.Rxf1 Re2 27.Ra1 Rh6 28.d4 Be3 0–1

Morphy's Chess Puzzle

This little chess problem (D), said to have been composed by the young Paul (and his only chess problem) before he was ten.

White to play and win.

Morphy's Dynamic Play

Morphy, P. - Anderssen, A.

Match, Paris (10), 1858

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 f5 (D) 8.N1c3! f4 9.Nd5 fxe3 10.Nbc7+ Kf7 11.Qf3+ Nf6 12.Bc4 Nd4 13.Nxf6+ d5 14.Bxd5+ Kg6 15.Qh5+ Kxf6 16.fxe3 Nxc2+ 17.Ke2  1–0

Anderssen after his defeat retorted: "Morphy wins in 17 moves, whereas it took me 7 more.", possibly referring to his "immortal game" against Kieseritzky in London 1851.

Sadly, Paul Charles Morphy went crazy (unexplained mental illness) in 1875 and died from congestion of the brain during the mid-afternoon of July 10, 1884. Truly, the chess world had lost an "Uncrowned Champion"...

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PAUL MORPHY 

He played a glorious game: in open field, 

Whate’er the opening was, he met the attack, 

And almost always hurled it grandly back; 

And when he did his rival’s fate was sealed. 

‘Tis wrongly said the greatest art’s concealed 

Behind art, for he never strove to hide 

His forte to see beyond the opposing side! 

And deadly mesnes many a time revealed 

To his surprised and quite defenseless foe 

That move of ten moves back a master-coup, 

Who vainly deemed it lost at any rate. 

Most dreaded was he when he seemed to throw 

Piece after piece away, for then all knew 

Swiftly approached the inevitable mate.

                                                             ~ Sheriff
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