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Paul Morphy vs Charles Maurian
Rook and Knight Odds game (1854) (unorthodox), New Orleans
Chess variants (000)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Mar-03-04  InspiredByMorphy: Im surprised nobody has commented on this game considering Morphy started it down a rook and knight! His play is incredible!
Jun-15-04  HailM0rphy: Incredible is not the word I would use! On move 6 when I saw ng5 I was thinkin no! Morphy had good mobilization and is the perfect time for Bxf7! Ng5 just lets him castle! But Maurian didn't even castle! Then he sets up everything nice for Morphy to eat..I don't see the point in 17 d3..That bishop isn't going to move! Be4! I don't see the point in Kg8 it just lets Morphy regain more material..I know I have to be missing somthing but commonn
Oct-15-04  fgh: Morphy draws being a rook and a knight down at the beggining!!!!
Sep-11-05  blingice: I'm glad that we have people here that can notice things that no one else can possibly see.
Nov-07-05  chesscrazy: Wow morphy was down a rook and a knight and still managed a draw!
Nov-07-05  GlennOliver: 41. ... Kxf3 ??

Despite Morphy's brilliance,

41. ... h4

is a win for Black, by Queening then preventing White from Queening by harrying the King.

May-11-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  SwitchingQuylthulg: That's not the only move deserving the two question marks - 41 Kf6?? does, too. 41 f4 draws. (At least draws. White will end up having queen and g-pawn vs. queen. Computer seems to find Black an immediate perpetual though.)
Jun-16-08  Xeroxx: Morphy is a rook and a knight down from the start and he draws!!!!!
Jun-16-08  Smothered Mate: HailM0rphy <On move 6 when I saw ng5 I was thinkin no! Morphy had good mobilization and is the perfect time for Bxf7! Ng5 just lets him castle!>

If 6... 0-0 then 7. Qh5 h6 8. Nxf7 is very bad for black.

Jun-16-08  RookFile: In theory, Morphy made a mistake, accepting a draw in a King and Queen vs. King and Queen position, against this guy.
Dec-13-08  WhiteRook48: If it was White to move, Morphy could WIN with 47. Qa8+!
Dec-31-08  WhiteRook48: Morphy should've played this game out.
Jan-01-09  WhiteRook48: ...Ke4?? would lose for Maurian in the final position
Jan-02-09  WhiteRook48: because of Qa8+ but I bet Maurian was smart enough not to fall for these traps. I bet Maurian would go for perpetual check to avoid losing this ending. "How'd you go from being up a rook and knight to losing the king and the game??"
Jan-04-09  WhiteRook48: what a Morphy game!
Jan-12-09  WhiteRook48: and an incredible draw. Good place for my 1680th kibitz (whatever).
Jan-15-09  Xeroxx: Morphy draws with a rook and knight down from the start!! I have never seen such thing before!!!
Jan-15-09  A.G. Argent: Being as how these two guys were the very best of pals and played each other so many times, I could easily envision them bursting out, bustin' a gut laughing as they agreed to draw this game. Musta been a spree. And <WhiteRook48> that could be why Morphy didn't play it out. Bang-Bang Queens and it's all good. Time for a coupla mint juleps. Whatever.
Jan-15-09  Steven87: Incredible game!
Jan-19-09  WhiteRook48: well, it was a DRAW anyway... what's surprising is HOW Maurian blundered back that Rook and Knight.
Jan-20-09  WhiteRook48: so 17. Rxc5 wins a piece for Morphy, so he only has to win that extra Rook... later he trades Rooks and wins off another Bishop, so he's down one exchange, then Maurian sacs the exchange... wow. blundering back that ♖ and ♘ is not something many players want to do.
Jan-22-09  WhiteRook48: Maurian was lucky Morphy played without the Rook and Knight.
Jan-27-09  Xeroxx: What happened to the rook and the knight anyway?
Jan-27-09  WhiteRook48: don't the moves 17-19 remind you of RJF's game of the Century?
Apr-22-09  tentsewang: why did pieces had to be removed from one adversary when these legends played off against their antagonist ?
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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