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Opera Game

Paul Morphy mates the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard in seventeen moves after they leave their king in the center and fall behind in development. The game is the usual classroom example of opening lines and using every piece.

White
Paul Morphy
Black
Duke of Brunswick & Count Isouard
Event
Paris Opera
Year
1858
Result
1-0

Critical position

Opera Game, after ply 32♞♚♝♜♟♟♟♟♛♟♗♙♙♙♙♙♙♙♔♖abcdefgh12345678

After 16... Nxb8. White to move.

Take over as White vs Maia

Step through

Position after 16... Nxb8♞♚♝♜♟♟♟♟♛♟♗♙♙♙♙♙♙♙♔♖abcdefgh12345678

16... Nxb8

Annotated score

  1. 1. e4 (best) e5 (best)

  2. 2. Nf3 (best) d6 (good)

  3. 3. d4 (best) Bg4 (inaccuracy)

  4. 4. dxe5 (best) Bxf3 (good)

  5. 5. Qxf3 (best) dxe5 (best)

    dxe5: White already has both bishops and the queen aiming at the uncastled king.

  6. 6. Bc4 (inaccuracy) Nf6 (inaccuracy)

  7. 7. Qb3 (best) Qe7 (excellent)

  8. 8. Nc3 (good) c6 (best)

  9. 9. Bg5 (excellent) b5 (mistake)

  10. 10. Nxb5 (best) cxb5 (best)

    Nxb5: 10.Nxb5 gives a piece to rip open the queenside. Black’s extra knight never gets into the game.

  11. 11. Bxb5+ (best) Nbd7 (blunder)

  12. 12. O-O-O (good) Rd8 (good)

    Rd8: Both rooks occupy the open d-file. Black’s king is still on e8.

  13. 13. Rxd7 (best) Rxd7 (good)

  14. 14. Rd1 (inaccuracy) Qe6 (good)

  15. 15. Bxd7+ (blunder) Nxd7 (best)

  16. 16. Qb8+ (best) Nxb8 (best)

    Qb8+: 16.Qb8+ forces the last defender off d7.

  17. 17. Rd8# (best)

    Rd8#: The remaining rook mates on the back rank. Every white piece took part; the black queenside never moved.