Morphy – Duke of Brunswick & Count iso

This is another game against Royalty (see also Morphy-Lyttleton). The present game is better known, having been played at the Paris Opera during a performance of the Barber of Seville. Talk about distractions!

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Date: 1858.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: Paris Opera
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "Paris Opera"] [Site "?"] [Date "1858.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Morphy"] [Black "Duke of Brunswick & Count iso"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "33"] 1.e4 {This is another game against Royalty (see also Morphy-Lyttleton). The present game is better known, having been played at the Paris Opera during a performance of the Barber of Seville. Talk about distractions!} e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4 4.dxe5 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 dxe5 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.Qb3 Qe7 8.Nc3 {Given the circumstances of the game, Morphy just didn't feel like capturing the pawn at b7. That would have taken the fun out of the game!} c6 9.Bg5 b5 10.Nxb5 {That's more like it! Morphy sacrifices a knight for the b-pawn instead of capturing it for free at his 8th turn.} cxb5 11.Bxb5+ Nbd7 12.O-O-O Rd8 {Both knights are pinned, and Morphy now trades one pin for another.} 13.Rxd7 Rxd7 14.Rd1 Qe6 15.Bxd7+ Nxd7 {Black has an extra piece, but White checkmates in two moves. If you can't find Morphy's brilliant finish on your own, continue on and let Gambit show you. Either way, it is a pleasant sight!} 16.Qb8+ Nxb8 17.Rd8# 1-0