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Classic game replay

Paul Morphy vs Adolf Anderssen, 1858

This replay preserves the complete 37-ply score of Morphy playing White across 19 numbered moves. The board can be advanced one ply at a time; the notes stick to observable board changes rather than guessing at the players’ intentions.

On this page
  1. Practice positions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Paul Morphy
Black
Adolf Anderssen
Event
Paris m1
Year
1858
Result
1-0
Opening
C38 King's Gambit Accepted: Hanstein Gambit

Opening reference: King's Gambit Accepted: Hanstein Gambit (C38).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 17 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 13 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 37 legal choices. The source score ends after 19.Rf7+ with the recorded result 1-0. Its termination tag was not retained, so this record does not infer whether the game ended by resignation, time or another cause.

Practice positions

The daily trainer uses a short set of positions from this complete score. Each link goes to the exact half-move rather than only the numbered move.

  1. 9.Nxg5 — Exchange on g59.Nxg5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 11.Bxf4 — Exchange on f411.Bxf4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 19.Rf7+ — A forcing check19.Rf7+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.

Replay with move-by-move board facts

The board, fact panel and transcript use the same legal score. “Fixed engine check” means Stockfish 17.1, one thread, a fixed 25,000-node search and 3 candidate lines. It compares moves under one reproducible setting; it does not claim to reconstruct a player’s thoughts.

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Paul Morphy vs Adolf Anderssen, 1858

Start position

Use Previous and Next on the board, or select a move in the transcript. The board fact and fixed engine check remain visible until you choose another move.

Opening · 1.e4 to 10...Kd8

  1. 1.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4.

  3. 2.f4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nf3 ranked higher · f4 exf4.

  4. 2...exf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on f4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf4 Nf3 d5 exd5.

  5. 3.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 d5 exd5 Nf6.

  6. 3...g5 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g5; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g5.

  7. 4.Bc4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc4 g4 Nc3 gxf3.

  8. 4...Bg7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to g7; from g7 it attacks White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; g4 ranked higher · Bg7 Nc3 Nc6 d4.

  9. 5.O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: White castles kingside, moving the king to g1 and the rook to f1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; h4 ranked higher · O-O d6 d4 Nc6.

  10. 5...d6 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d6; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d6 g3 fxg3 hxg3.

  11. 6.c3 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c3 h6.

  12. 6...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc6 d4 h6 g3.

  13. 7.Qb3 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qb3.

  14. 7...Qe7 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe7 d4 h6 Nbd2.

  15. 8.d4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 h6 Nbd2 Nf6.

  16. 8...a6 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; h6 ranked higher · a6.

  17. 9.Nxg5 Exchange on g5

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on f7 and Black's pawn on h7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxg5 Qxg5 Bxf7+ Kd8.

  18. 9...Qxg5 Recapture on g5

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the knight on g5; from g5 it attacks White's pawn on g2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxg5 Bxf7+ Kd8 Bxf4.

  19. 10.Bxf7+ Capture with check on f7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on f7; the move checks Black's king; from f7 it attacks Black's knight on g8; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf7+ Kd8.

  20. 10...Kd8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from e8 to d8; from d8 it reinforces the bishop on c8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kd8 Bxf4 Qg4 e5.

Middlegame · 11.Bxf4 to 19.Rf7+

  1. 11.Bxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on f4; from f4 it attacks Black's queen on g5 and Black's pawn on d6; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf4 Qg4 e5 Bh6.

  2. 11...Qe7 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from g5 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's bishop on f7 and White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qg4 ranked higher · Qe7 Bxg8 a5 Nd2.

  3. 12.Bxg8 Exchange on g8

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on g8; from g8 it attacks Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxg8 h5 e5 dxe5.

  4. 12...Bg4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to g4; from there it controls e6, f3 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg4 Nd2 Be2 Rf2.

  5. 13.Nd2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to d2; from there it controls e4, c4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd2 Kd7 Bd5 Rhf8.

  6. 13...Kd7 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from d8 to d7; from there it controls c6, d6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kd7 Bd5 Na5 Qa4+.

  7. 14.Bd5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from g8 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd5 Be2 Rf2 Raf8.

  8. 14...Nd8 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to d8; from there it controls c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rhf8 ranked higher · Nd8 e5 dxe5 Rae1.

  9. 15.Bxb7 Exchange on b7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on b7; from b7 it attacks Black's rook on a8 and Black's pawn on a6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; e5 ranked higher · Bxb7 Nxb7 Qxb7 Rhf8.

  10. 15...Nxb7 Recapture on b7

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the bishop on b7; from b7 it reinforces the pawn on d6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxb7 Qxb7 Rhb8 Qd5.

  11. 16.Qxb7 Recapture on b7

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the knight on b7; from b7 it attacks Black's rook on a8 and Black's pawn on a6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb7 Rhb8 Qd5 Be6.

  12. 16...a5 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a6 to a5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rab8 ranked higher · a5 Bxd6 Qxd6 Rf7+.

  13. 17.Bxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on d6; from d6 it attacks Black's queen on e7 and Black's pawn on c7; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd6 Qxd6 Rf7+ Ke8.

  14. 17...Bxd4+ Capture with check on d4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on d4; the move checks White's king; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c3; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd4+ cxd4 Qxd6 Rf7+.

  15. 18.cxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the bishop on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Qxd6 Rf7+ Ke8.

  16. 18...Qxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the bishop on d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on d4 and White's pawn on h2; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd6 Rf7+ Kd8 Qxa8+.

  17. 19.Rf7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f7; the move checks Black's king; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f7 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf7+ Kd8 Qxa8+ Bc8.

PGN

[Event "Paris m1"] [Site "?"] [Date "1858.??.??"] [White "Morphy, Paul"] [Black "Anderssen, Adolf"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. O-O d6 6. c3 Nc6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. d4 a6 9. Nxg5 Qxg5 10. Bxf7+ Kd8 11. Bxf4 Qe7 12. Bxg8 Bg4 13. Nd2 Kd7 14. Bd5 Nd8 15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16. Qxb7 a5 17. Bxd6 Bxd4+ 18. cxd4 Qxd6 19. Rf7+ 1-0

Sources and checking

Score source: Chess Database, version 1 by Ana Schaigorodsky (2016), licensed under CC BY 4.0. LibreChess selected the exact score identified by sha256:d99ec368c35fecd03634c44a2741e7272dbf2c8138b27178f66029992b921c5d and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Morphy, Paul"; Black="Anderssen, Adolf"; Event="Paris m2"; Date="1858.??.??"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: event Paris m2 → Paris m1. LibreChess parsed the main line with chess.js and stores normalised SAN. Source comments, side variations and termination detail were not retained.

LibreChess checks every SAN move with chess.js and compares the result and move sequence with a stored reference. The engine comparison was calculated offline from the fixed settings above; it is not a source for historical claims. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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