pe 4 MORPHY’S GAMES: SELECTION OF THE BEST GAMES PLAYED BY THE DISTINGUISHED CHAMPION, : 4S gurl Lae In on Sear “i with ANALYTICAL AND CRITICAL NOTES BY J. LOWENTHAL. Ot NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, $46 & 3 BROADWAY. LONDON: 16 LITTLE BRITAIN. 1860. mins N — tT \ eeuJIC DEDICATED, PAR GREATEST ve sera Pavan CHESS PLAYERS OF EUROPE - Neds s ‘THEIR HUWBLE sxxvalr, ‘ J. LOWENTHAL.TO THE READER. Many friends, both in Europe and America, have fre- quently urged me to arrange a collection of my games, which they assured me would meet with kindly reception ‘from chess-players generally. But continued contests during the past twelve months would have precluded my concurring with so flattering a request, had it not been for the assistance rendered me by my friend Herr Lowen- thal. The copious notes with which this volume is en- riched are mainly due to his well-earned reputation and assiduity as an analyst, and will amply repay perusal from every lover of our noble game. In the arrangement of this work, a rule has been adopted of giving, as far as possible, the best of my games, This rule, however, has been ignored in respect to matches and blindfold contests, which it was thought advisable to give entire. Thus many parties are intro- duced which might otherwise have been omitted, and Bvi TO THE READER. others are wanting which would, perhaps, have advan- tageously replaced them. It is for the reader to express his opinion on the judiciousness of the selection, and I solicit his courteous consideration for the work now before him, (Signed) PAUL MORPHY.PREFACE. Tue editor of the following pages avails himself of the opportunity which custom sanctions, and in a short preface desires to make one or two apologies or.explana- tions for his own share in the work. He is quite sure that a collection of Paul Morphy’s best games will be a welcome addition to the annals and literature of chess ; but he is not so well persuaded that the task of analyzing and publishing these games has fallen into the best hands. As, however, the duty was in some degree an involuntary one; as he brought to its discharge an admiration for the player, an enthusiasm for the cause of chess; and as he devoted many successive weeks of close and patient, although cheerful toil, to render the work in all respects worthy of a permanent place in the library of every chess- player, he hopes to run the gauntlet of criticism without serious detriment to such reputation as he may have earned by former labors for the honor of Caissa. The circumstances which led to the present publica- tion may be briefly told. The editor was often urged by members of the metropolitan clubs to publish a col-vill PREFACE. lection of Mr. Morphy’s games, but hesitated to do so until Mr, Morphy gave his permission, and very gener- ously promised to render all the assistance in his power. Tt was then impossible to resist the flattering suggestion. The editor at once earnestly set about the work, and he is happy in being able to return his very hearty thanks to the American champion for the liberal aid he extended towards the prosecution of the arduous enterprise so long as he remained in England. This volume is now before the public, and it is for them to judge of its merits by its own internal evidence and this explanation. It is only necessary to add that the editor, in analyzing the games, has necessarily availed himself of the works of previous authors, and as it would have been tedious to repeat their names constantly in footnotes, he here desires to render his acknowledg- ments especially to Heydebrand, Jaenisch, Staunton, Lange, &c. It is also worth mentioning that the editor has adopted an abbreviated notation. By this he has saved himself and the compositor much trouble, and sup- plied a precedent which he conceives may be adopted by amateurs with advantage in taking down the moves. The plan, however, being only an abbreviation of the existing system, it has been considered unnecessary to publish a key.CONTENTS. weMoR ewe BOOK I. ' MATCHES WITH ANDEESSEN, HARRWITZ, LOWENTHAL, MONGREDIEN, ‘ ALTER.” Page Marcu BETWEEN Mz. Morray anp Here ANDERSSEN : Game L—Evans’ Gambit eee ee ew ee a IL—Euy Lopes Knight’sGame ww ww wee uL— i “ se ee ew ee 1B Iv.— 7 in se ee ew ee Ua“ ‘V.—Irregular Opening ee er ee eee i6) vI— * “ see eee vi— « a ee SS Vill—Siclinn Opening. - 7 we wee ee In * - Cr K.—Irregular Opening =. s 7 wee eee OD pi Wrench Opening (area te) eee ee eer a Marcu netwren Mr. Morro ano Here Harerwirz: Game L—Irregular Opening =». soe ee ee ft v IL—Philidor's Defence. . 6. we ee WL—Irregular Opening =. 2 we ee eee IV.—Philidor’s Defence Be eee ere 80 Vi-Inregular Opening =... ww wee V1.—Philidor's Defence eee ere ane ViL—Irregular Opening =. sw we eee ‘VIIL—Philidor's Defence Beer tee re teeertn rs ax CONTENTS. Pago Marcu Between Mr. Morpay axp Herr Loéwentuar: Game L—Philidor’s Defence rr ee ( IL—King’s Gambit Declined oe 8 8 ew ee IIL—Philidor’s Defence eee eee ee IV.—King’s Gambit Declined ee ee ee BB V.—Petroff’s Defence See eee eee eae eee eee eee ov = Siellinn Opening 90 eee er ere rr eo) ‘VII.—Philidor s Defence ee ee ee ee VIIL “ . Be 8B IX.—Ruy Lopez Knight's Game eee ee ee OFT X.—French Opening Se 6 108 XL—Sicllian Opening. . . we wee 108: Xll—French Opening... wwe eee 108 XIIL—Petroff's Defenco rr ee ©. es XIV.—Ruy Lopez Knight's Gamo See ee Marcu BETWEEN Mr. Morpuy anp Mr. MoNGREDIEN: GameI—DoubleGambit . . . . . . . « « . 18 IL—Evans’ Gambit ee D Wk—Irregular Opening . . . . . we ee 188 IV.—Two Knights’ Opening . . . . . . 1 ew 1M V.—KingsGambit . . . 1 1 1 we ee 186 Vi—Irregular Opening © ww wee Vil—Evans’Gambit ©. 7 6 ee ee 1D ‘VIII.—Philidor's Defence eee ee we 180 Marcu perween Mr. Moray anp “ ALTER: ” Game l—Remove Black's KBP . ee IL—- “* a = ee SS im— “ “ nm ee Iv— “ 7 « eee ee ew 188 v— * “ al le me a co eeereete tenet claret | m-— * oo. eee IV.—King’s Gambit eee ee IT V.—Evans’'Gambit . 2-6 ee eee 8D Bumpyoip Gaus ix New Yorn: King’s Knight's Gambit (Mr. Lichtenhein) . =. =. 5 «we 42BOOK III. OONBULTATION GAMES. IN LONDON. Morrsy anp Barnes aGainst Staunton aNpD OWEN: Page Game L—Philidor’s Defence» 1 ww wwe ee AD IL—Centre CounterGambit . . . . . 2 - «Oh Morpny, WaLkeR AND GreENaway, aGainsT Moncrepien, Mep- LEY and LOWENTHAL: King’s Bishop'’sGambit . . . . .« rn IN PABIS. Monpuy acarxst Sr. Auant anv F, pg L——: Gtaoco Piano re 2] Morpny aGainst CHAMOUILLET AND ALLIES: French Opening «6 ww ww wee 28 Morpny acatnst THs Doxs or Brunswick anp Count Isouarp: Philidor’s Defence see ee ee ee ET IN AMERICA. Morpny acainst Fiske, F, Perrin anp W. J. A. Fouuer: Two Knights’ Defence . 2 1° 1 wwe 8 BOOK IV. OFF-IAND GAMES. Wits Mn. ANDERSSEN: Game L—King's Bishop’sGambit . . . . . . - 88 U—AllgaierGambit 2... 1. ww TB m— “ 7 2) —King's Knight's Gambit eee ee ew OS v- * . . se . - 983 VLi—AligalerGambit 2... we weCONTENTS. xiii 9s g segzgeqd Wirn Mr. Barnes: Game L—Philidor's Defence Se IL—Irregular Opening». 0, ww ele IUL.—Ruy Lopez Knight's Game Seeeereee sees ceeeperee cease reece uae IV.—Philidor's Defence Be ee V.—King’s Gambit Declined 2. 2. ww ‘VI—Philidor's Defence see ee ‘VIL—King's Bishop's Opening . . . . . ss . Wirn Mr. Bavcuer: Aligaier Gambit 2. 2 2. 1. 1 ew ew ee Wirn Mr. Bap: Game L—Knight’sGambitEvaded . . 2. . 1 ww. OSD IL—Allgaier Gambit CS pa eo 6 0 5 0 5 6 8 Oo fd IV.—Philidor's Defenco re» C2 Wirs Mr. Bopen: Game I—Evan'Gamblt ©. 2 6 1. ww kn Il—Ruy Lopez KnightsGame . 6. ww wt V.—King’s Bishop's Opening . 6 1. 1 we 823, 826 830 IV.—Eny Lopez KnightsGame . 2 . 1. ww. 888 Ba ‘Vi—Seotch Gambit re) Wirt Mr. Bupzinsxy: BO oso =O Oo oe oF 6 0 tS Wire Mr. McConyen: French Opening . 2 . 1 ww ww. MB Wir Mr. Hampron: Evans'Gambit 2... 2 1. ee ee HS Wits Mr. Journoup: Game I—Sicilisn Opening . 2 2). . ww MT IL—Giuoco Plano ee) Wira Mr. Kennicorr: Coe 6909 Oo 6 6 oO 6 6 OC) Wirs Me. Krerine: Game L—Evans'Gambit . 2°... . kk, IL—- « ba . ee Bt gexiv CONTENTS. Wirn Mr. Lanoone: Irregular Opening ee ee ag Wir Me. Licutensri Game L—Evans'Gumbit . . 6 6 6 ew wt 8B IL—Petroff's Defence 8. . 1 we et 366 U—Seotch Gambit =. 6 wwe ee ee BO Wirn Ma, Léweyrnar ; Evyans'Gambit . 2 2 6 6 6 2 6 ew 8B Wirn Mr. Manac E Gambit soe ee ee ee BB Wire Mr. Meptey: Game 1.—Ruy topes Knight's G@orae eee eee nu— « 8 “ Til—Allgaier Gambit. 2 6 ww ee le Wir Jupcr Merk 810 8s1— 888 Game L—Allgaier Gambit . . . . . . . . . - 887 IL.—Scotech G: bit . . . oe . . . .« 889 393, sot? 400 Wirs Mr, Exxxsr Monrny: Gams Lo mbit pee eee T—Roy Lopez Knlghts@ame =... eee Wirn Mr. Pave 1 gular Opening Wirn Mr. Perr : 7 Sicilian Opening » . , ew we we Wirn Ma, pe Rivién Game L—Evans' Gambit te ee ee 406 T—Ruy Lopes Knights @ame 9... ee 08 UikL—Evans' Gambit wee ee we ID v— * ” a > C7 Wrrn Mr. Rovssrav : King’s Knight's Opening =. 6 6 ww ew AT ‘Wirt Mr. Scuvnres : Gome I—King's Bishop's Gambit ing’s Gambit Refused 9. . 6 . ee ee IL.—Ki BSGame IIL—Bishop'sGambit. . . . » - + IV.—Evans’ “ ee ee ee Wrrn Mz. Tuompson: Game, L—Evans’ Gambit 6°60 0° oO 6 mu * eee eee BOOK Y. GAMES AT ODDS. Morruy axp Amateurs: Game L—Mauzio Gambit—Remove ‘White's Q Kt oo. IL * “ soe IL—Scotch Cais wastes Q oe IV.—Evans’ Gambit—Remove WhitesQKt . . ‘V.—Petroff's Defence—Remove White's Q Kt . VL—Evans’' Gambit—Romove WhitesQKt . . Morray anp Amarrurs : Game I.—Two Bishop's Opening—Remove White's Q Rook II.—Two Knights’ Defence—Remove White's Q Rook Drvinck anp Morray: Bemove Black's K B P see ee Morpny axp JULiEn: Game L—King’s Knight's Gambit— Remove White's Q Kt IL—Philidor's Defence—Remove White's QKt . Morpuy anp Perrin: Evans’ Gambit—Remove White'sQKt . Sraxcey anp Morpsy: French Opening—Remove Black'sK BP . Morpny axnp Worratu: Game I—Evans' Gambit—Remove WhitesQKt . . IL—Irregular Opening—Remove White’sQKt . IIL—French Opening—Remove White'sQKt . TV.—King’s Gambit Declined—Remove White's Q KtA MEMOIR. ‘Tue presentation to the Chess public of more than one hundred and fifty games contested by Paul Morphy, against the best players of Europe and America, would scarcely be complete, un- less accompanied by a Memoir, however brief, of the young ge- nius who has so suddenly risen up in our midst, and fairly fought his way through a host of formidable competitors to the Chess throne. If, in the composition of that Memoir, we were to confine ourselves simply to the Chess life of Paul Morphy, the record might be a very brief one—almost as brief as the cele- brated “ Veni, vidi, vici,” of the Roman conqueror, and much to the same effect. We might write, Paul Morphy is in his 22d year, has played Chess from his childhood, and has beaten all who have ventured “to enter the lists with him,” and then we might resign our pen. But in every life there is more than one element, however much that one may prevail over the rest. The web of each human existence may be compared to a woven fabric, in which one material predominates in weft and warp, but "blended threads of many hues wind in and out, checkering the prevailing uniform tint, and giving variety to the general aspect. Curiosity is a constant element in the action of the human mind. The public scrutinizes a man brought prominently before them, as a dealer or buyer does the manufactured goode. When any in- dividual becomes great in any department of life, those who walk ° in the same path want to know something more of him than re-xviii MEMOIR, lates to their common pursuit—that thoy are generally already aware of—that it is which has called their attention to him, and stimulated their curiosity. What they require, is something be- yond that. They ask to be told of the general, as well as the special, man. They inquire what race he has sprung from; what his home has been; how he has been educated; what he is out- side the arena in which he has become great. They seek for the signs of character in the sense in which it has been defined by a countryman of Paul Morphy’s—Emerson, who tells us character is that subtle force which impresses us with the idea of what a man is capable of, rather than leads us to think of what he has done. The outer life with which the biographer deals, is made out of actions. The superstructure of inference must bear its due proportion to the basis of facts which, in our case, is but a narrow one. Paul Morphy is yet too young to have played his part on the great stage of life. He has yet to make his mark in the world of men, on the map of which the Chess world is but a speck—a dot of an intellectual island, amid oceans and continents. If he were to die to-morrow, he would be handed down to pos- terity in company with the greatest of the Chess-masters of the past. If he live out the “three-score years and ten,” the quali- ties which have thus early made him great in Chess, may sig- nalize his name in one or more of the many fields on which the battle of life has to be fought. In person, the subject of our Memoir is short and slight, with an elegant and dignified, though unpretending bearing. He has black hair, dark brilliant eyes, small delicate features, and a firmly set jaw; the latter lending an aspect of determination to the whole countenance. Over the Chess-board he is cool, collected, and concentrated ; and so easily are his greatest and most prolonged efforts made, that he seldom or ever exhibits traces of fatigue. In his intercourse with the world he is courteous and unassum- ing, and exhibits a tact surprising in one so young, and that ap- preciation of motive which generally marks those who are great in any walk of life. Of Paul Morphy, except as a Chess player, we know but little.MEMOIR. xix He comes, on the father’s side, of a Spanish family, long settled in Louisiana. The name Morphy, certainly, does not sound like a Spanish patronymic; it rather reminds an Englishman of a name not at all unusual in the sister Isle ; and we should not be surprised if some enthusiastic Irish Chess player were to broach the theory that Paul Morphy is descended from men who lived on Irish soil. This, of course, is mere speculation, but it is a fact that many Irishmen have emblazoned their names on the page of continental history, risen to high rank in the military service of Spain, and founded powerful families. However, Paul Morphy’s father was of reputed Spanish descent ; and, of his mother’s fam- ily, there is no question. They were French, and had been long resident in one of the West India islands. Morphy’s father, during the latter years of his life, held the office of Supreme Judge of the State of Louisiana. Paul was born in the city of New Orleans, on the 22d of June, 1837; so that he is now in bis 23d year. We have not any information which would lead us to believe that in his earlier years he was different from other children; except that, when exceedingly young, he played at Chess. His father was a Chess player of considerable power ; and his uncle, Mr. Ernest Morphy, was generally consid- ered the Chess King of New Orleans. Ina recently published Memoir, we are told that, in 1847, when the boy had completed his first decade, the father taught him the moves, and his uncle gave him a lesson in the art of the game. Paul was an apt pupil. In a few months he was able to con- test a game with cither of his relatives, and soon entered the lista against the stoutest opponents he could meet. In 1849, 1850, and 1851, Mr. Morphy achieved a series of triumphs over the strongest players of the Union; among whom were Ernest Morphy, Stanley, and Rousseau. It is said that out of over fifty parties fought during these years with Mr. Eugene Rousseau, his young antagonist won fully nine-tenths, ‘We are told that even at that time the boy gave evidence of genius and originality. He did not rest upon precedent, nor pay