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Classic game replay

Paul Morphy vs Frederic Lewis, 1858

This replay preserves the complete 55-ply score of Morphy playing White across 28 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
Frederic Lewis
Event
London
Year
1858
Result
1-0
Opening
C51 Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined

Opening reference: Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined (C51).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 35 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 12 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 34 legal choices. The final recorded move is 28.Qh8#, which is checkmate; the stored result is 1-0.

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.d4 — Change the pawn structure9.d4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 12.dxe5 — Recapture on e512.dxe5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 16.Qxc3 — Recapture on c316.Qxc3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 28.Qh8# — Checkmate28.Qh8# 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 Frederic Lewis, 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...Bb4

  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.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 Nc6 d4 exd4.

  4. 2...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 d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  5. 3.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 Nf6 d3 d6.

  6. 3...Bc5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc5 c3 Nf6 d4.

  7. 4.b4 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b4; from b4 it attacks Black's bishop on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c3 ranked higher · b4.

  8. 4...Bb6 Create pressure on f2

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from c5 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bxb4 ranked higher · Bb6 b5.

  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: Near the leading choice · O-O.

  10. 5...Qe7 Create pressure on b4

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; d6 ranked higher · Qe7 c3 a6 d4.

  11. 6.a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Qxb4 d3 Qe7.

  12. 6...Nxb4 Exchange on b4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on b4; from b4 it attacks White's pawn on c2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; a5 ranked higher · Nxb4 a5.

  13. 7.a5 Create pressure on b6

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a4 to a5; from a5 it attacks Black's bishop on b6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 Bc5 d4 exd4.

  14. 7...Bc5 Create pressure on f2

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b6 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc5 c3.

  15. 8.c3 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's knight on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c3 Nc6 d4 Bd6.

  16. 8...Nc6 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from b4 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's pawn on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 d4.

  17. 9.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's bishop on c5 and Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 Bd6 Re1 Nf6.

  18. 9...exd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c3; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · exd4 cxd4 Bb4 Bg5.

  19. 10.cxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's bishop on c5; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · cxd4 Bb4 Bg5 f6.

  20. 10...Bb4 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from c5 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's pawn on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb4 Bg5 f6 Bd2.

Middlegame · 11.Ne5 to 28.Qh8#

  1. 11.Ne5 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on c6 and Black's pawn on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qb3 ranked higher · Ne5 Nxe5.

  2. 11...Nxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on e5; from e5 it attacks White's bishop on c4; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe5 dxe5 Nh6 Bxh6.

  3. 12.dxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Qxe5.

  4. 12...Qxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the pawn on e5; from e5 it attacks White's rook on a1 and White's pawn on a5; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe5 Ra4 Bc5 Qb3.

  5. 13.Qb3 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's bishop on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra4 ranked higher · Qb3.

  6. 13...Qe7 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e5 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bd6 ranked higher · Qe7.

  7. 14.Bb2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to b2; from b2 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bb2.

  8. 14...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 e5.

  9. 15.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; e5 ranked higher · Nc3 O-O e5 Bxc3.

  10. 15...Bxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks White's bishop on b2 and White's pawn on a5; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bxc3 Qxc3 d6 e5.

  11. 16.Qxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on c3; from c3 it attacks Black's knight on f6; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc3 O-O.

  12. 16...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 Rfe1.

  13. 17.Rae1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to e1; from there it controls e4 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rae1 d6 e5 Nh5.

  14. 17...Ne8 Reroute the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; b5 ranked higher · Ne8 e5.

  15. 18.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · f4 Qc5+ Kh1 d6.

  16. 18...Qc5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to c5; the move checks White's king; from c5 it attacks White's bishop on c4 and White's pawn on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc5+ Kh1.

  17. 19.Kh1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g1 to h1; from h1 it reinforces the pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kh1 d6.

  18. 19...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 Ba3 Qc6 f5.

  19. 20.f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f4 to f5; from there it controls e6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rf3 ranked higher · f5 b5 axb6 axb6.

  20. 20...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from e8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; b5 ranked higher · Nf6 e5 Nd5 Qd3.

  21. 21.Rf3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f3; from there it controls c3, d3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; e5 ranked higher · Rf3 Re8.

  22. 21...Qe5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c5 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's queen on c3 and White's pawn on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Re8 ranked higher · Qe5 Qc1 Qxa5 Rg3.

  23. 22.Qd2 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c3 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qc1 ranked higher · Qd2 Qe7 Rg3 Nh5.

  24. 22...Qe7 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e5 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxe4 ranked higher · Qe7 Rg3 Nh5 Rh3.

  25. 23.Rg3 Create pressure on g7

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f3 to g3; from g3 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rg3 Nh5 Rh3 Bxf5.

  26. 23...Nh5 Create pressure on g3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to h5; from h5 it attacks White's rook on g3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nh5 Rh3 b5 Bd5.

  27. 24.f6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f5 to f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f6 it attacks Black's queen on e7 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rg5 ranked higher · f6 Nxg3+ hxg3 Qd7.

  28. 24...Nxg3+ Capture with check on g3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the rook on g3; the move checks White's king; from g3 it attacks White's pawn on e4; black is ahead by 7 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxg3+ hxg3.

  29. 25.hxg3 Recapture on g3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on g3; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the g-file; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg3 gxf6 Qh6 Be6.

  30. 25...gxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf6 Qh6 Be6 Rf1.

  31. 26.Qh6 Create pressure on f8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d2 to h6; from h6 it attacks Black's rook on f8 and Black's pawn on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh6 Be6 Rf1 Rfe8.

  32. 26...Qd7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to d7; from there it controls c6, d6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Be6 ranked higher · Qd7 Be2 Qe6 Bxf6.

  33. 27.Qxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on d6 and Black's pawn on f7; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf6 Qh3+ gxh3 c6.

  34. 27...Qg4 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's pawn on e4 and White's pawn on g3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qh3+ ranked higher · Qg4 Qh8#.

  35. 28.Qh8# Checkmate

    Board fact: White's queen moves from f6 to h8 and delivers checkmate; Black's king has no legal way to answer the attack.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh8#.

PGN

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Date "1858.??.??"] [White "Morphy, Paul"] [Black "Lewis, Frederic"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. O-O Qe7 6. a4 Nxb4 7. a5 Bc5 8. c3 Nc6 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 Bb4 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Qb3 Qe7 14. Bb2 Nf6 15. Nc3 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 O-O 17. Rae1 Ne8 18. f4 Qc5+ 19. Kh1 d6 20. f5 Nf6 21. Rf3 Qe5 22. Qd2 Qe7 23. Rg3 Nh5 24. f6 Nxg3+ 25. hxg3 gxf6 26. Qh6 Qd7 27. Qxf6 Qg4 28. Qh8# 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 sha256:4df5ce6edc38bb466baf24ba73409e0721852c6dee0985f36a477e17fe8ec53b and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Morphy, Paul"; Black="Lewis, Frederic"; Event="London"; 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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