Paulsen vs Morphy, 1857
Morphy’s 17...Qxf3 against Paulsen is the other queen sacrifice people learn after the Opera Game. The follow-up 18...Rg6+ and the bishop pair decide it.
- White
- Louis Paulsen
- Black
- Paul Morphy
- Event
- First American Chess Congress, New York
- Year
- 1857
- Result
- 0-1
Critical position
After 17. Qa6. Black to move.
Step through
17. Qa6
Annotated score
1. e4 (best) e5 (best)
2. Nf3 (best) Nc6 (excellent)
3. Nc3 (good) Nf6 (good)
4. Bb5 (inaccuracy) Bc5 (good)
5. O-O (good) O-O (good)
6. Nxe5 (good) Re8 (good)
7. Nxc6 (inaccuracy) dxc6 (best)
8. Bc4 (excellent) b5 (good)
9. Be2 (best) Nxe4 (best)
10. Nxe4 (best) Rxe4 (best)
11. Bf3 (best) Re6 (best)
12. c3 (good) Qd3 (best)
Qd3: 12...Qd3 parks the queen in White’s camp before the sacrifice.
13. b4 (good) Bb6 (best)
14. a4 (best) bxa4 (best)
15. Qxa4 (best) Bd7 (inaccuracy)
16. Ra2 (mistake) Rae8 (mistake)
17. Qa6 (good) Qxf3 (best)
Qxf3: 17...Qxf3. The queen is taken; the g-file and the bishops do the rest.
18. gxf3 (best) Rg6+ (best)
19. Kh1 (best) Bh3 (best)
Bh3: 19...Bh3 threatens mate on g2 and stops the king from running.
20. Rd1 (mistake) Bg2+ (good)
21. Kg1 (best) Bxf3+ (best)
22. Kf1 (best) Bg2+ (best)
23. Kg1 (inaccuracy) Bh3+ (inaccuracy)
24. Kh1 (inaccuracy) Bxf2 (blunder)
25. Qf1 (good) Bxf1 (inaccuracy)
26. Rxf1 (inaccuracy) Re2 (inaccuracy)
Re2: The second rook lands on e2. Paulsen is a queen up and lost.
27. Ra1 (best) Rh6 (best)
28. d4 (blunder) Be3 (best)