I've actually played games like that 5 times. Every time as white. Except, I took the pawn on f7 with the bishop and after the queen took, I took the b7 pawn, trapping his rook. Paul Morphy didn't do this because he calculated a really long combination I was sure my opponents would not find. I won 4\5 games. I made an absolutely horrible blunder (up an exchange) and lost one of them.
I always play 8.Bxf7!? Qxf7 9. Qxb7 and take his rook.
chessmasters2004, if Black plays the correct 8. ...Kd8! instead of 8. ...Qxf7?, then they "only" lose two pawns (9. Qxb7 Qb4+!).
JoachimH, you played the game well, and had a won game until you gave away your queen. Play more carefully :) You also need to always watch out for tactics, since after he played 20. ...Nxe4?? you could've replied Qb7+, winning the Knight (and ending the game much more quickly). Good game anyhow!
Thx clunney, but don't you think that a two pawn advantage in a endgame is enough to win.
Thanks clunney. I suppose I did play a good game but since most of my good moves were Morphy's I don't know how much credit I can take for it! Thanks also for the tactic spot on move 21. That certainly would've won quite easily.
In analysis I was also looking at Bxf6 on move 15 and then playing Qh3 after he recaptures with the queen or the pawn. That looks winning to me. What do you think?
Of course a two pawn advantage should be an easy win chessmasters, there's no disagreement there! I was just pointing out Bxf7+! doesn't win Black's rook if he avoids Qxf7?.
The easiest way to win Joachim would've been been 15. Bxf6, since after 15. gxf6 (15. ...Qxf6?? 16. Rxd7) 16. Bxd7+ Qxd7 17. Rxd7 Kxd7 18. Qb7+ followed by taking on a7 leaves you with a 3-0 majority on the queenside and a Queen vs. Rook and Bishop. No, you aren't going to mate him immediately, but it's still an easy win (just push your pawns...). Remember, especially in Blitz, it's important that you don't waste time trying to find complicated win and just go for the easy win, or else you lose time, blunder queens, etc.
Lucky & Unlucky you! I wish I was playing the Opera Game! You were playing good until the move 23. Instead of what you did play, you should've played: 23. g4+ which wins the Knight and the game.
8. Qxb7 doesnt work
When playing on blitz the other day I got extremely excited when my opponent started playing exactly the same moves as Count Isouard and Duke Karl from the opera game against Paul Morphy (you can see the game in the link). I've studied this game a number of times and remember the moves quite well so I happily played along. If it's good enough for Paul Morphy then it's CERTAINLY good enough for me! The opera game was played out move for move all the way to white's 14th move at which point I was getting extremely excited hoping to recreate the beautiful queen sacrifice followed by mate with the only two major/minor pieces left on the board.
This is unfortunately where it started to go wrong however. My oppononent broke from the opera game and played h6. I doggedly tried to carry on with Paul Morphy's moves but this was obviously not going to work. The game ended with me chasing the black king and then ridiculously blundering away my queen and resigning on the spot.
On analysing the game I realise I also should have broken with the opera game and played a different move at move 15. I'm pretty sure I now know what this move should have been but am keen to hear other people's thoughts on possible continuations. Anyone got any ideas?
Also, JoePluma if you are reading this where you aware that you were playing move for move a game that has become the stuff of legend in the chess community?
http://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=767842184