MARK RUBERY CHESS

The American genius Paul Charles Morphy (1837-84) defeated three of Europe’s leading masters in 1858 and then retired from the game. Called the ‘pride and sorrow of chess’-a mantle now belonging to R.J Fischer- Morphy’s accomplishments were not embraced by his family who though chess was not a suitable occupation for a grown man. Spurned by his fiancée who would not ‘marry a mere chess player’, Morphy gave up the game that he had made such a dramatic impact on, as the following spark of genius will give testament to.

Bird,H - Morphy,P [C41] London, 1858 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Ng3 e4 7.Ne5 Nf6 8.Bg5 Bd6 9.Nh5 0-0 10.Qd2 Qe8 11.g4 Nxg4 12.Nxg4 Qxh5 13.Ne5 Nc6 14.Be2 Qh3 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Be3 Rb8 17.0-0-0 ...Rxf2!? (The surprising start of a brilliant if slightly flawed combination. Admittedly the White position was already lost but the execution that follows is worth the price of admission. ‘I raise my hat to a great artist, but the crude 17… Bg4! Is correct’-Kasparov) 18.Bxf2 Qa3!! 19.c3 Qxa2 20.b4 Qa1+ 21.Kc2 Qa4+ 22.Kb2 (22 Kc1! was thought by Maroczy to lead to a draw but further scrutiny from our silicon friend allows Black to retain a minimal edge after …Bf5 23 Be1 Qa1+ 24 Kc2 e3+ 25 Kb3 exd2 26 Rxa1 Re8 but this is not as decisive as the position after the prosaic 17…Bg4)… Bxb4 23.cxb4 Rxb4+ 24.Qxb4 Qxb4+ 25.Kc2 e3! (‘This reply was overlooked by Bird- but it is hard to demand of a mid-19th century master that he should be able to weigh up all the consequences of 18…Qa3!! and 22…Bxb4’Kasparov) 26.Bxe3 Bf5+ 27.Rd3 Qc4+ 28.Kd2 Qa2+ 29.Kd1 Qb1+ 0-1

When one plays with Morphy the sensation is as queer as the first electric shock, or first love, or chloroform, or any entirely novel experience. – Henry Bird

The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life.” - Paul Morphy.