chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Samuel Boden vs Paul Morphy
Casual game (1858), London ENG
Spanish Game: Berlin Defense (C65)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35437 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 10 more S Boden/Morphy games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" button below the game.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-21-04  InspiredByMorphy: Does 22.Re4 win? If 22.Bxf2+ 23.Kh1 what
would black play? If 22.Ng6 23.Bxe6 If 22.Bxc4 23.Rxh4 threatening mate. Boden actually played a great combination starting on move 17.Ne5! I find it interesting Boden got 5 moves deep into the combination with great results but didnt play the right 6th move. I think 22.Re4 looks best. I will look again at this later and see if I can find what Morphy might have played against it. Any suggestions anybody?
Apr-21-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: Fascinating game! If 20. Re4 Qh3! 21. gxh3 (21. Qxh6?? Qxg2++) Nf3+ & 22 ... Nxd2 trading down. Unfortunately by Move 20 White is behind two pieces, and missed 20. e6 Qxd6 which holds by a thread. The best drawing chance was 22. Qxh4 hoping for 22 ... Bxc4? 23. Qg4+ Kh7 24. Qh4+ and a perpetual. White owned the opening and could have proven it with 10. Ng5 h6 (10 ... g6?! 11. Ne4 & 12. Bg5 exploiting the painfully weak dark squares) 11. Ne4 planning 12. Qh5, then 13. Bxh6! gxh6 14. Qxh6 & 15. Ng5, since there's no Knight to defend h7. Or 14. Bg3 Ng6 15. d5 with a chokehold. I believe the suicidal 15 ... d5!? only worked because the Bh4 was hanging, so 17. Bg3 still gives White the advantage.
Apr-21-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: Sorry, I just realized you said 22. Re4, not 20. Re4. If 22. Re4 Bxf2+! 23. Kh1 (23. Kxf2 Qc5+ 24. Kg3 Qg5+, or 24. Ke1 Qg1+; 23. Kf1 Bxc4+ 24. Rxc4 Qd3+) Bf5 24. Rf4 Be3 chops wood. Interesting is 23. Kh1 Rfd8!? 24. Bxe6 Qd1+ 25. Re1 (25. Rxd1? Rxd1+ mates) Qxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Bxe1 and Black should hold out since the Nh4 covers g6.
Apr-22-04  InspiredByMorphy: After looking into it, you are correct. Well done. 22.Re4 Bxf2+! and the bishop guards the knight on h4. I overlooked this earlier. 22.Bxf2+! is definitely what Morphy would play.
Dec-16-04  Zembla: I liked all the analysis centered around the refutation of 22.Re4. However I saw other parts of the game differently. I think Boden's sacrificial plans started with move 15 when he left his B to be captured. Morphy's 15...d5 was a good move to free his game. Boden didn't anticipate this and failed to alter his sacrificial game plan only to see it peter out.
Jul-01-08  heuristic: <10. Ng5 h6 11.Ne4 planning 12.Qh5, then 13.Bxh6! gxh6 14.Qxh6 & 15.Ng5, since there's no Knight to defend h7.>
to defend h7, you need either a N on f6 or a B on f5. 10.Ng5 h6 11.Ne4 d6 12.Qh5 Be6 13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.Qxh6 Bxd5 15.Ng5 Bf5 16.g4 Bg6 and BLK is in better shape.

The game moves 10.Bg5 Qe8 (10...h6 11.Bxd5 hxg5 12.Nxg5) keeps WHT advantage.

<Or 14.Bg3 Ng6 15.d5 with a chokehold> Doesn't the B on b6 pin the f2 pawn and renders d5 ineffective? 14.Bg3 Nh5! 15.d5 Qd8 16.d6 Nhxg3

<missed 20.e6 Qxd6 which holds by a thread> 20... Qc6 is interesting. 21.Bf1 Bxe6 22.Qxh6 Nf5 or 21.Bd5 Qxd6 22.Qxh6 Qxd5

<the suicidal 15 ... d5!? only worked because the Bh4 was hanging> What's dangerous about this? either d5 or d6 is a great move as it frees the QB 15...d6 16.exd6 Qd7 17.Bg3 Nxg3 18.fxg3. interestingly, these moves are appropriate for 15...d5 also.

to me, 15.Ne4 is suicidal as it depends on a "cheapo", 15.Ne4 Nfxh4?? 16.Nxh4 d5 17.exd6 Nxh4 18.Nf6+!
better is 15.Bg3 Qd8 16.Qc2 d6 17.e6 and WHT continues its stranglehold.

this game is instructive because it shows that for K attacks, you need both clearance and backup. Boden was fixated on Nf6+ to open up the K, but he had only the Q for the follow-up attack. You need a 1-2 piece advantage (in the immediate area) for a successful attack, and with d5, BLK activates the QB and blunts the attack.

Dec-16-16  CaringLuv: 23.Qxh4 is better. 23.Re4 was a blunder.
Jul-31-22  nimzo guardians: on move 12 white should've hung his bishop and played Qd3 instead. If black plays xBg5 then white plays Nxg5 threatening mate with Qh7.

A player like Morphy wouldn't fall for it obviously but if played correctly white would at very least have had an advantage and given black something to think about. Better than the move that was played in the game Bh4.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC