The Opera Game was an 1858 chess game, played at an opera house in Paris. The American master Paul Morphy played against two strong amateurs: the German noble Karl II, Duke of Brunswick, and the French aristocrat Comte Isouard de Vauvenargues. It was played as a consultation game , with Duke Karl and Count Isouard jointly deciding each move for the black pieces, while Morphy controlled the white pieces by himself. The game was played in a box while an opera was performed on stage. [lower-alpha 1] Morphy quickly checkmated his opponents following rapid development of material , involving a queen sacrifice.
It is among the most famous of chess games. [4] The game is often used by chess instructors to teach the importance of piece development, the value of sacrifices in mating combinations, and other concepts.
White: Paul Morphy Black: Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard Opening: Philidor Defence ( ECO C41)
Paris, October/November [1] [3] 1858
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 Bg4?!
4. dxe5 Bxf3
5. Qxf3
5...dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6?
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
7. Qb3 Qe7 (diagram)
8. Nc3
8... c6
9. Bg5 b5?
10. Nxb5!
10... cxb5
11. Bxb5+
11... Nbd7
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
12. 0-0-0 Rd8 (diagram)
13. Rxd7 Rxd7
14. Rd1
14... Qe6
15. Bxd7+ Nxd7
16. Qb8+!
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
This mating pattern is sometimes called the "opera mate" in reference to this game. [7] Other than the king, all of White's remaining pieces play a role in the checkmate. Therefore, the position satisfies the definition of an economical mate. Economical mate is one of a few terms used by chess problem composers to describe the aesthetic properties of a checkmate position; related concepts include pure mate, model mate, and ideal mate. [8] [9] The final position nearly satisfies the criteria of a model mate, but fails for one reason: there are two reasons why the black king cannot be moved to the square f8. It is occupied by a bishop of the same color, and it is guarded by the white rook.
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