Some games are just too good not to share so tonight’s puzzle comes with the entire game as an added bonus. “Too good” is actually quite an understatement. In fact, if I had to demonstrate Paul Morphy’s greatness in just one game, I might choose this one even over the more famous Opera Game. Especially given the fact that this was played during a blindfold simultaneous exhibition, this could be Paul Morphy’s most impressive chessboard performance.
[Event “Blindfold simul, 6b”]
[Site “New Orleans, LA USA”]
[Date “1858.03.24”]
[EventDate “?”]
[Round “?”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White “Paul Morphy”]
[Black “Pierre Emile Bonford”]
[ECO “C52”]
[WhiteElo “?”]
[BlackElo “?”]
[PlyCount “53”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4
7. O-O dxc3 8. Ba3 d6 9. Qb3 Nh6 10. Nxc3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 O-O
12. Rad1 Ng4 13. h3 Nge5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Be2 f5 16. f4 Nc6
17. Bc4+ Kh8 18. Bb2 Qe7 19. Rde1 Rf6 20. exf5 Qf8 21. Re8
Qxe8 22. Qxf6 Qe7 23. Qxg7+ Qxg7 24. f6 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Bxh3+
26. Kxh3 h5 27. Rg1 1-0
