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Morphy's Lead in Development

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In this game from their 1858 Paris match, Paul Morphy lets Adolf Anderssen collect material on c3, then uses the resulting open lines to activate his rooks.

On this page
  1. Critical decisions
  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
B01 Scandinavian Defense: Anderssen Counterattack

Opening reference: Scandinavian Defense: Anderssen Counterattack (B01).

In this game, 15 half-moves are labelled opening, 34 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 15 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 41 legal choices. The source score ends after 25.Bd3 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.

Critical decisions

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. 8.bxc3 — Move 8 — ...Qxc3+, the material grab8.bxc3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Qxd4 — Moves 13-14 — a tactical liquidation14.Qxd4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 19.Qe7 — Move 19 — Qe7! the queen trade19.Qe7 was playable in the fixed engine check, although another move scored a little higher.
  4. 21.Bxh7+ — Capture with check on h721.Bxh7+ 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 8.bxc3

  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...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d5 exd5 Nf6 d4.

  3. 2.exd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd5 Nf6.

    Moves 2-4 — the early queen sortieAfter 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 e5, White has developed a knight and opened lines for both bishops while Black's queen has already moved twice. Morphy next clears the centre with 5.dxe5.
  4. 2...Qxd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the pawn on d5; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on d2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd5 Nc3.

  5. 3.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's queen on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 Qd8.

  6. 3...Qa5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d5 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa5 d4 e6 Bd3.

  7. 4.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 Nf6 Nf3 e6.

  8. 4...e5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 exd4 Qxd4.

  9. 5.dxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · dxe5 Qxe5+.

  10. 5...Qxe5+ Recapture on e5

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the pawn on e5; the move checks White's king; from e5 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on h2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe5+ Be2 Bb4 Bd2.

  11. 6.Be2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to e2; from there it controls c4, d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2 Bb4 Bd2 Bg4.

  12. 6...Bb4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb4 Bd2 Bg4 f4.

  13. 7.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's queen on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Bxc3+ bxc3 Qxc3+.

  14. 7...Bxc3+ Capture with check on c3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on c3; the move checks White's king; from c3 it attacks White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc3+ bxc3 Qxc3+ Bd2.

  15. 8.bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the bishop on c3; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc3 Qxc3+.

    Move 8 — ...Qxc3+, the material grabAfter 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qxc3+, Black has exchanged a bishop for the f3-knight and taken the c3-pawn. The trade also opens the b-file, and 9.Bd2 develops with tempo against the queen.

Middlegame · 8...Qxc3+ to 25.Bd3

  1. 8...Qxc3+ Recapture on c3

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the pawn on c3; the move checks White's king; from c3 it attacks White's rook on a1 and White's knight on f3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc3+ Bd2.

  2. 9.Bd2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's queen on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2 Qc5 O-O Nc6.

  3. 9...Qc5 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c3 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on c2 and White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc5 O-O Nc6 Rb1.

  4. 10.Rb1 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to b1; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b1 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb1 Nc6 Rb5 Qd6.

  5. 10...Nc6 Develop the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 Rb5 Qd6 O-O.

  6. 11.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: Ranked first · O-O Nf6.

  7. 11...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 Rb5 Qd6 Qa1.

  8. 12.Bf4 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d2 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bf4 O-O.

  9. 12...O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: Black castles kingside, moving the king to g8 and the rook to f8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O Rb5.

  10. 13.Bxc7 Exchange on c7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on c7; from c7 it reinforces the pawn on h2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rb5 ranked higher · Bxc7 Ne4.

    Moves 13-14 — a tactical liquidation13.Bxc7 Nd4 14.Qxd4 Qxc7 trades White's bishop for Black's d4-knight and c7-pawn. With fewer minor pieces on the board, White's rooks are ready for the open b- and e-files.
  11. 13...Nd4 Create pressure on e2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to d4; from d4 it attacks White's bishop on e2 and White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nd4.

  12. 14.Qxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: White's queen takes the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's queen on c5 and Black's knight on f6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd4 Qxc7.

  13. 14...Qxc7 Exchange on c7

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the bishop on c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on c2 and White's pawn on h2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc7 Qc4.

  14. 15.Bd3 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e2 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 b6.

  15. 15...Bg4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bg4 Ng5.

  16. 16.Ng5 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on f7 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng5 Rfd8 Qb4 h6.

  17. 16...Rfd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks White's queen on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfd8 Qb4 h6 Ne4.

  18. 17.Qb4 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d4 to b4; from b4 it attacks Black's bishop on g4 and Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb4 h6 Ne4 Nd5.

  19. 17...Bc8 Reposition the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h6 ranked higher · Bc8.

  20. 18.Rfe1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe1 a5 Qc4 Rd7.

  21. 18...a5 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's queen on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 Qc4 Qxc4 Bxc4.

  22. 19.Qe7 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from b4 to e7; from e7 it attacks Black's queen on c7 and Black's rook on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qc4 ranked higher · Qe7 Rd7 Qa3 g6.

    Move 19 — Qe7! the queen trade19.Qe7 Qxe7 20.Rxe7 trades queens and places a rook on the seventh rank. After 20...Nd5, 21.Bxh7+ takes a pawn with check and keeps Black's king exposed.
  23. 19...Qxe7 Exchange on e7

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the queen on e7; from e7 it attacks White's rook on e1; black is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qxe7 Rxe7.

  24. 20.Rxe7 Recapture on e7

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the queen on e7; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e7 it attacks Black's pawn on b7 and Black's pawn on f7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe7 Rd5 f4 Rd4.

  25. 20...Nd5 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to d5; from d5 it attacks White's rook on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rd5 ranked higher · Nd5 Bxh7+ Kh8 Rxf7.

  26. 21.Bxh7+ Capture with check on h7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on h7; the move checks Black's king; from h7 it reinforces the pawn on c2; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxh7+ Kh8 Rxf7 Bd7.

  27. 21...Kh8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to h8; from h8 it attacks White's bishop on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh8 Rxf7 Bd7 h4.

  28. 22.Rxf7 Exchange on f7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on f7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from f7 it attacks Black's pawn on b7 and Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf7 Re8 Bg6 Nc3.

  29. 22...Nc3 Create pressure on b1

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d5 to c3; from c3 it attacks White's rook on b1 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc3 Re1 Bd7 f3.

  30. 23.Re1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from b1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 Bd7 Bg6 Bc6.

  31. 23...Nxa2 Exchange on a2

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on a2; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bd7 ranked higher · Nxa2 Rf4 g6 Nf7+.

  32. 24.Rf4 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f7 to f4; from there it controls d4, e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf4 g6 Bxg6 Nb4.

  33. 24...Ra6 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to a6; from there it controls c6, d6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; g6 ranked higher · Ra6 Bd3 Be6 Bxa6.

  34. 25.Bd3 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from h7 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's rook on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Be6 Bxa6 bxa6.

PGN

[Event "Paris m1"] [Site "?"] [Date "1858.??.??"] [White "Morphy, Paul"] [Black "Anderssen, Adolf"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 e5 5. dxe5 Qxe5+ 6. Be2 Bb4 7. Nf3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qxc3+ 9. Bd2 Qc5 10. Rb1 Nc6 11. O-O Nf6 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Bxc7 Nd4 14. Qxd4 Qxc7 15. Bd3 Bg4 16. Ng5 Rfd8 17. Qb4 Bc8 18. Rfe1 a5 19. Qe7 Qxe7 20. Rxe7 Nd5 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 22. Rxf7 Nc3 23. Re1 Nxa2 24. Rf4 Ra6 25. Bd3 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 sha256:4b4de2b00dc57d5958caafe2b32f8ea1ad114dfc809f5ad1cabaeb300e271216 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 or a substitute for the authored notes. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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