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Classic game replay

Paul Morphy vs Bornemann, 1858

This replay preserves the complete 63-ply score of Morphy playing White across 32 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
Bornemann
Event
Paris sim
Year
1858
Result
1-0
Opening
C30 King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation

Opening reference: King's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation (C30).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 43 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 15 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 38 legal choices. The source score ends after 32.Rxc7 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. 6.fxe5 — Exchange on e56.fxe5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Bh4 — Create pressure on f614.Bh4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 23.Nb6+ — A forcing check23.Nb6+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 28.Bxd7+ — Capture with check on d728.Bxd7+ 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Paul Morphy vs Bornemann, 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...Be7

  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...Bc5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's knight on g1.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; exf4 ranked higher · Bc5 Nf3.

  5. 3.Nf3 Develop the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 d6 c3 Nf6.

  6. 3...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: Ranked first · d6 c3 Nf6 fxe5.

  7. 4.c3 Advance the c-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c3 Nf6 d4 exd4.

  8. 4...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 h3 Bxf3 Qxf3.

  9. 5.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: Ranked first · Bc4 Nd7.

  10. 5...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 fxe5.

  11. 6.fxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on d6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe5 Nxe4 d4 d5.

  12. 6...Bxf3 Exchange on f3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on f3; from f3 it attacks White's queen on d1 and White's pawn on e4; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf3 Qxf3.

  13. 7.Qxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on f3; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on f6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf3 dxe5 d3 a6.

  14. 7...dxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 a4 O-O d3.

  15. 8.d3 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d3; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d3 Nbd7.

  16. 8...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 a4 Na5 Ba2.

  17. 9.Bg5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bg5 Be7 a4 O-O.

  18. 9...a6 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Na5 ranked higher · a6 Nd2.

  19. 10.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 Be7 O-O O-O.

  20. 10...Be7 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from c5 to e7; from there it controls c5, d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 a4 Na5 Ba2.

Middlegame · 11.O-O-O to 32.Rxc7

  1. 11.O-O-O Queenside castling

    Board fact: White castles queenside, moving the king to c1 and the rook to d1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; a4 ranked higher · O-O-O Na5.

  2. 11...Qd7 Create pressure on d3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd7 a3.

  3. 12.Nf1 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d2 to f1; from there it controls e3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h4 ranked higher · Nf1 Qg4 Bd2 Na5.

  4. 12...O-O-O Queenside castling

    Board fact: Black castles queenside, moving the king to c8 and the rook to d8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qg4 ranked higher · O-O-O.

  5. 13.Ne3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from f1 to e3; from there it controls d5, c4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne3 Na5.

  6. 13...h6 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's bishop on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Na5 ranked higher · h6 Bh4.

  7. 14.Bh4 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from g5 to h4; from h4 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh4 Na5 Bxf7 Kb8.

  8. 14...g5 Create pressure on h4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g5; from g5 it attacks White's bishop on h4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Kb8 ranked higher · g5 Bf2 h5 Bxf7.

  9. 15.Bg3 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from h4 to g3; from g3 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg3 h5 Nf5 h4.

  10. 15...Rdf8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the rook on h8.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rdf8.

  11. 16.Nd5 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from e3 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's bishop on e7 and Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nf5 ranked higher · Nd5 Nxd5 exd5 Na5.

  12. 16...Ne8 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to e8; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ne8 d4 Nd6 Nxe7+.

  13. 17.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d3 to d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 f6 Qe2 Nd6.

  14. 17...exd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; f6 ranked higher · exd4 Bxc7 g4 Qe2.

  15. 18.cxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bxc7 ranked higher · cxd4 Bd8 e5 Ng7.

  16. 18...Bd8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e7 to d8; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd8 e5.

  17. 19.Rhf1 Rook on the semi-open f-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h1 to f1; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; e5 ranked higher · Rhf1 Nd6.

  18. 19...Nd6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from e8 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's bishop on c4 and White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd6 Bxd6 cxd6 Bb3.

  19. 20.Bb3 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from c4 to b3; from there it controls d5 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb3.

  20. 20...Nb5 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d6 to b5; from b5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb5 Bc4 f5 exf5.

  21. 21.Qe3 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f3 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe3 Na5 Bc2 f5.

  22. 21...f5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · f5 exf5.

  23. 22.exf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f5; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf5 Re8 Qd3 Nbxd4.

  24. 22...Rxf5 Recapture on f5

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the pawn on f5; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f5 it attacks White's rook on f1 and White's knight on d5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Re8 ranked higher · Rxf5 Nb6+ cxb6 Be6.

  25. 23.Nb6+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d5 to b6; the move checks Black's king; from b6 it attacks Black's queen on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb6+ cxb6 Be6 Rd5.

  26. 23...cxb6 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the knight on b6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the b-file; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxb6 Be6 Rxf1 Bxd7+.

  27. 24.Be6 Create pressure on d7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b3 to e6; from e6 it attacks Black's queen on d7 and Black's rook on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Rxf1 Bxd7+ Kxd7.

  28. 24...Rd5 Rook on the semi-open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f5 to d5; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd5 Rf7 Be7 Kb1.

  29. 25.Rf7 Rook on the open f-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f7; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f7 it attacks Black's queen on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf7 Be7 Kb1 Kd8.

  30. 25...Ne7 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to e7; from there it controls d5, c6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bc7 ranked higher · Ne7 Kb1 Nc7 Bxd7+.

  31. 26.Kb1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from c1 to b1; from b1 it reinforces the pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kb1 Nxd4 Bxd7+ Kxd7.

  32. 26...Re8 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h8 to e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it reinforces the bishop on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re8 Bxd7+ Kxd7 a4.

  33. 27.Rc1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to c1; the move checks Black's king; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from there it controls c3, c4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc1+ Bc7 a4 Nd6.

  34. 27...Nc7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the knight from b5 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's bishop on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc7 Bxd7+ Kxd7 Qf3.

  35. 28.Bxd7+ Capture with check on d7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the queen on d7; the move checks Black's king; from d7 it attacks Black's rook on e8; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd7+ Kxd7 Qf3 Ra5.

  36. 28...Rxd7 Recapture on d7

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the bishop on d7; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on d4; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Kxd7 ranked higher · Rxd7 Qe6 b5 d5.

  37. 29.d5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d4 to d5; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qe6 ranked higher · d5 Kb8 d6 Ncd5.

  38. 29...Nc6 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e7 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc6 Qxb6 Ne5 Rxd7.

  39. 30.dxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the knight on c6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c6 it attacks Black's rook on d7 and Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxc6 Rxf7 Qxb6 bxc6.

  40. 30...Rxe3 Exchange on e3

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the queen on e3; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e3 it attacks White's bishop on g3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; bxc6 ranked higher · Rxe3 cxd7+ Kb8 Bxc7+.

  41. 31.cxd7+ Capture with check on d7

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the rook on d7; the move checks Black's king; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd7+ Kb8 Bxc7+ Bxc7.

  42. 31...Kb8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from c8 to b8; from b8 it reinforces the knight on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kb8 Bxc7+ Bxc7 Rf8+.

  43. 32.Rxc7 Exchange on c7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the knight on c7; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c7 it attacks Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bxc7+ ranked higher · Rxc7 Ka7 Rc8 Re2.

PGN

[Event "Paris sim"] [Site "?"] [Date "1858.??.??"] [White "Morphy, Paul"] [Black "Bornemann"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 Bg4 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. fxe5 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 dxe5 8. d3 Nc6 9. Bg5 a6 10. Nd2 Be7 11. O-O-O Qd7 12. Nf1 O-O-O 13. Ne3 h6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Bg3 Rdf8 16. Nd5 Ne8 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Bd8 19. Rhf1 Nd6 20. Bb3 Nb5 21. Qe3 f5 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Nb6+ cxb6 24. Be6 Rd5 25. Rf7 Ne7 26. Kb1 Re8 27. Rc1+ Nc7 28. Bxd7+ Rxd7 29. d5 Nc6 30. dxc6 Rxe3 31. cxd7+ Kb8 32. Rxc7 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:e0d5e8168c1f6f495e2505ef65ccfdd5b3e6c7ec823c86ee9a39ac419518dbaa and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Morphy, Paul"; Black="Bornemann"; Event="Paris sim"; Date="1858.??.??"; Result="1-0". 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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