Morphy's Blindfold Games, New Orleans 1858

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Morphy's Blindfold Games, New Orleans 1858
Compiled by Calli

When Morphy returned from the chess congress in New York, he decided to improve his skill at playing simultaneous blindfold games. Perhaps he was jealous of the attention that Louis Paulsen received for setting blindfold records or he simply thought that masters should be able to entertain with such exhibitions. He progressively increased the number of boards from 2 and 3 in January to exhibitions of 4, 5 and 6 boards in March. Lawson mentions that on March 31, he played seven boards, winning six and losing one and that an eight blindfold simul was announced for the week of May 2. No games are available from the seven and eight board exhibitions.

Next exhibition: Game Collection: Simultaneous blindfold exhibition at Birmingham

Main Menu: Game Collection: Morphy's Simultaneous Exhibitions

For serious games, see Game Collection: Match Morphy!

Disclaimer: I made certain deductions in assigning games to the exact dates. Please contact me if you have better information.

Game 1 was given in The Chess Monthly Game CV, page 115, 1858 Morphy's exhibitions were announced in the New Orleans Daily Picayunne of Jan 10 and 11:

http://www.chessarch.com/excavation... http://www.chessarch.com/excavation...

According to the paper, then, a one game exhibition was scheduled for the 13th and a two game simul on the 16th. Morphy, however, in a letter to Fiske related that he played 2 games on one occasion and three on another(Lawson, page 89). Since Morphy had already played single blindfold games before, it appears the exhibitions were 2 and 3 game simuls and the game Morphy sent to Fiske for The Chess Monthly was from the 16th.

NY Clipper reports: http://www.chessarch.com/excavation... http://www.chessarch.com/excavation...

New Orleans Sunday Delta 5 board Exhibition: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/358...

Jan 16,1858, 1 of 3, announced mate in 4 at move 30
Morphy vs NN, 1858
(C52) Evans Gambit, 33 moves, 1-0
10 March 1858, 1 of 4, a few more moves were unrecorded
Morphy vs NN, 1858
(C37) King's Gambit Accepted, 28 moves, 1-0
10 March 1858, 1 of 4
Morphy vs NN, 1858
(C52) Evans Gambit, 26 moves, 1-0
17 March 1858, 1 of 5, Bd 3
Morphy vs NN, 1858
(C37) King's Gambit Accepted, 19 moves, 1-0
17 March 1858, 1 of 5 Bd 4, announced mate in 5 at move 33
Morphy vs NN, 1858
(C51) Evans Gambit, 32 moves, 1-0
24 March 1858, 1 of 6, Opponent is P.E. Bonford
Morphy vs P Bonford, 1858
(C52) Evans Gambit, 27 moves, 1-0
24 March 1858, 1 of 6, perhaps announced mate in 5
Morphy vs NN, 1858
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 23 moves, 1-0
24 March 1858, 1 of 6
Morphy vs NN, 1858
(C34) King's Gambit Accepted, 23 moves, 1-0
8 games

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