During Paul Morphy’s famous European adventures in 1858, he made several stops at the infamous Cafe de la Regence in Paris, France. The cafe had always been an important centerpiece in chess history, as most of the previous greats had played there at one time or another. Francois-Andre Danican Philidor, Legall de Kremeur, and Adolf Anderssen are just a few names to play at the famous cafe. It has also been documented that Benjamin Franklin, a noted chess enthusiast, played there on occasion while serving as American ambassador to France during the Revolutionary War.
One of Morphy’s encounters at the cafe involved him playing eight of the strong cafe regulars in a blindfold simul in the presence of approximately 250 chess fans. After ten hours of play, Morphy had amazingly won six games, drawn two, and lost zero. It was reported that Morphy never took a break and did not even appear fatigued at the conclusion of play. One of his games from this event is presented below, as annotated by Johann Jakob Lowenthal.
SOURCE: Harper’s Weekly – November 13th, 1858
[Event "blindfold simul"]
[Site "Paris, France"]
[Date "1858.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Paul Morphy"]
[Black "Henri Baucher"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "57"]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4
Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Bg5 f6 8. Bh4 Nh6 {It is a
question to which square this knight shoulbe played here, to
the one in the text or to e7. Much may be said in favor of
both; played to h6 it can be brought back to f7 and castling
effected; while if to e7 with the object of posting it on g6,
a diagonal is left open which will render castling a less easy
matter. Th relative merit, however, of the two moves can only
be determined by frequently tecting them in actual play.}
9. Nc3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc4 Kh8 12. Nd4 Qd7 13. Rad1 Rf7
{Played, it would seem, with a view of occupying the square
vacated with the queen’s rook, though we do not see that
Black’s position would thereby have been much improved.}
14. f4 {In recording games played by Mr. Morphy, we have been
much struck by the skill and judgement with he invariably
times the advance of the f-pawn after castling. An immediate
advantage is immediately apparent. Here it allows the King’s
rook to be brought to bear on the adversary’s intrenchments.}
a5 15. f5 Rff8 {The advance of the f-pawn by white effectually
prevented Black from carrying on his original plan of bringing
his queen’s rook to f8 on account of Ne6; and this retreat of
the king’s rook was no doubt caused by Boucher’s wish to bring
his knight into play, which he now could not do without
leaving this rook ‘en prise’.} 16. Ne6 {White has now a fine
game.} Rg8 17. a4 Ng4 18. Qe2 {Mr Morphy exhibits the true
spirit of chess. From the commencement of the game he makes
such a disposition of his pieces, that, after serving his
purpose to the outmost in their original position, they are
brought at once, and without the least loss of time, to bear
on another weak point in the adversary’s game. the move in the
text is a fair prove of the truth of the assertion; for the
queen, after for some time having maintained a position of
importance, is now brought back and becomes even more powerful
than before. This move is a commencement of a very masterly
combination.} Ne5 19. Bg3 Qc8 {To get rid of the knight by
playing ...Bd7 and to allow the d-pawn to take the bishop if
his knight were captured.} 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Rf3 {The key move
to a combination of surprising merit, when it is remenbered
that it takes place in a game contested simultaneously with
seven others against strong players, and all without sight of
board and men.} Bd7 22. Rh3 h6 {If 22...Re8 White would have
won as follows 23 Qh5 h6 24 Nxg7 Bf8 (We see no better move
for if ...Kg8 white would win with Rg3) 25 Qxh6+ Kg8 26 Qh7+
Kf7 and White mates in two moves.} 23. Qd2 {Followed up with
real spirit.} Kh7 {To save the threatened mate.} 24. Qxd7 Bd6
25. Rxh6+ {The position deserves the student’s best
examination. Mr Morphy’s play here is a wonderful exhibition
of brilliancy and correctness.} Kxh6 26. Rd3 Kh5 27. Qf7 Kh4
28. Rh3 Kg4 29. Qh5# 1-0
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