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James Thompson vs Paul Morphy
New York (1857), New York, NY USA
Italian Game: Evans Gambit. Main Line (C51)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-12-02  bishop: Thompson tries to play like Morphy but it does'nt work.
Jan-05-04  POPPYLIL: James missed a possible mate with move 19. He should have moved the knight to h5 that's check and then queen to g7
Jan-06-04  InspiredByMorphy: Are you serious? After 19. Nh5+ The queen that is checking is left hanging for the black queen to take. You insult Morphys intelligence. Thompson only attempted to play like Morphy in this game.
Jan-06-04  Catfriend: <InspiredByMorphy> I must admit that you adore Morphy too much in this game.. <POPPYLIL> meant 19.♘h5+!instead of 19.♗d3?? - before black played ♕d6
Jan-06-04  Catfriend: It isn't a mate,BTW - 19..f6, but white has a fair advantage
Feb-26-04  Colophon: how about 20 Nh5+! this wins the black queen with a discovered check
Feb-26-04  TrueFiendish: Erm, no, 20.Nh5+ Qxe5 and black wins...
Feb-27-04  Colophon: sorry, that's 21. Nh5+! wins the black queen...
Feb-27-04  N. Cline Plane: Incidentally, through 10 e5, this opening was played the same year with morphy as white against schulten, who lost twice after replying 10...Bg4.

after 19 Nh5+ f6, white may have a chance, but not Thompson against Morphy, judging from their other games.

Feb-27-04  JKist3: I believe black's queen is not lost, after 21. Nh5+, Qd4 seems like the next move.
Aug-26-05  RookFile: Folks, there is one slight positional
detail that seems to be unnoticed here: Morphy is up a rook. If something like 19. Nh5+ f6 isn't mate, then it's time for white to resign.
Jul-19-07  benba57: Morphy's bishop has been sitting on b6 since move 8, and it becomes a decisive piece by the final position.
Jan-02-08  JimmyVermeer: Colophon, if Thompson plays 21 Nh5+, Morphy may reply 21... Bd4 22 Nc3 Qe5 etc. and now Morphy not only saves his queen but wins a knight from Thompson. RookFile, yes, Thompson is mega screwed here, but why resign when there is a chance for a draw? After all, even the great Morphy makes the occasional mistake.
Jan-28-08  JimmyVermeer: chessgames.com gives the location of this game as New Orleans, but Philip Sergeant gives the location as New York. Anyone know what accounts for the discrepancy?
Dec-30-09  wordfunph: James Thompson - Paul Morphy, New Orleans 1857


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<Colophon: sorry, that's 21. Nh5+! wins the black queen...>

21.Nh5+'s answer is 22.Bd4

Dec-30-09  wordfunph: James Thompson - Paul Morphy, New Orleans 1857


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white to move, this is the final position, hopeless for white..

Dec-28-10  josejoasm: 16.Qxh6 if 16...Nf5 17.Nf6+ Qxf6 18.Qxf6 and wins the queen. If 16...f6 17.Nf6+ Rxf6 18.Qxf6 and white looks better. If 16...Nxc4 17.Nf6#. If 16...Nxd5 17.Bxd5 and white also looks better. I think the key move is 16.Qxh6!!
Dec-28-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sastre: <josejoasm> I don't think 16.Qxh6 is a bad move, but Black is still winning after 16...Ng4 17.Nf6+ Nxf6 18.Qxf6 Ng6.
Dec-28-10  josejoasm: Ok, Sastre nice to see you again. After 16...Ng4 17.Nf6+ Nxf6 18.Qg5+ first case, if 18...Kh7 19.Rxe7 Qxe7 20.Bd3+ then first variation if 20...Bf5 21.Bxf5+ Kh8 22.Qh6+ Kg8 (if 22...Nh6 23.Qxh6#) 23.Qg5+ Kh8 and it's a draw. Second variation if 20...Ne4 21.Qxe7 and Morphy loses his queen. Third variation if 20...Qe4 21.Bxe4+ Nxe4 22.Qh4+ Kg7 23.Qxe4 and white is winning. Fourth variation if 20...Kh8 we have the same position after 21 move and it's a draw. Second case 18...Kh8 19.Qxf6+ either 19...Kh7 or 19...Kh8 20.Rxe7 and the position looks very nice for Thompson.
Dec-28-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sastre: <josejoasm> 16.Qxh6 Ng4 17.Nf6+ Nxf6 18.Qg5+ Ng6 is winning for Black.
Dec-28-10  josejoasm: I give up ;-)
Sep-30-20  paulmorphy1969: The location are New York Not new Orleans
Sep-30-20  paulmorphy1969: these random games were played during before and after the 1st American Chess Congress in New York 1857
Sep-30-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: Point to a source and I'll change it.

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