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Paul Morphy vs James Cunningham
Blindfold simul, 8b (1859) (blindfold), London ENG, Apr-20
Italian Game: Classical Variation. Center Attack (C53)  ·  1-0

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by J. LowenthalA bad move, he should have played ...d5.There was no other square open to the queen; had she been posted elsewhere, d6 would have rendered Black’s game hopeless.From this point to the end Mr. Morphy plays dashingly and brilliantly. The combination of which this move is the commencement, shows depth and soundness to a surprising extent.Well followed up.1-0

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Johann Lowenthal.      [28 more games annotated by Lowenthal]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-07-05  prinsallan: Giuoco Piano?

Well it is, but its a far from a usual piano Ive ever seen. Usually the piano leads to a very shut game, especially it did back in the era this game was played, am I right?

Anyway. Morphy ties every piece down before delivering the final blow with: 23: Rc8+ Brilliant, stunning!

Jun-07-05  azaris: <prinsallan> Actually the Giuoco Piano without 4.d3 is a gambit, for example after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 as is the classic variation. Not quiet by any means.

Jun-08-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: prinsallan, thanks for going around to all of the Morphy 8-board simul games yesterday. I was "following" you and watching these games as you would comment on them, and reading Lowenthal's comments too.

All I can say is WOW! Morphy is truly one of the greatest artists that the game has known. Take this game, for example. If I played this game I would save it and show everybody for years to come of an example of me at my best. But Morphy plays this one--and several other beautiful games just like it, all at the same time, without the sight of the board! It's not just that he won so many games, it's that he won them with such style and flair. Bravo Paul Morphy, Bravo!

Jun-08-05  prinsallan: <azaris> Thanks for pointing that out, I guess when I play the Giuoco Piano is the games when I usually try to trade off my bishops for the opponents knights and of course I try to lock down as many pawns as possible. <Sneaky> Thanks m8, I always appreciate you being around, since you are a much better analyzer than me.
Jun-08-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Every once in a while, you have to be reminded of just how far ahead of his time Morphy was.
Jun-08-05  Leviathan: <prinsallan: Usually the piano leads to a very shut game, especially it did back in the era this game was played, am I right?>

I think this is a prejudice - just check out this game collection of mine that features some of the best giuoco piano games of all times :)

Game Collection: "Don't Shoot the Piano Player!"

Jun-09-05  prinsallan: <Leviathan> Thanks for that collection, I will certainly browse through em all as soon as I can.

I also said this, trying to explain why I thought what I did about the piano: "I guess when I play the Giuoco Piano is the games when I usually try to trade off my bishops for the opponents knights and of course I try to lock down as many pawns as possible." Hope it explains some things about my comment.

Nov-02-07  Zxookazoid7: 21. Bb5!! Brilliant although you might not see why capturing the Bishop worsens Blacks position 22. ..Bxb5 23.Qxb6+ Ke8 23Qxb5+ Kf7
24. dxe6! Qxe6 25.Rfe1 Qf6 26.Qd7+ Ne7
27. Rc3 (Rook Lift) Qg5 28.Qe6!! Kf8
29. Rc8+ Nxc8
30.Qe8#
Sep-20-20  paulmorphy1969: James Gavin Cunningham
On the sixth board Morphy met Mr. James Gavin Cunningham (1837 / 38-1905). We know that he was a resident of Leeds in 1878-1881-1882 because his name appears in the annual meeting of the West Yorkshire Chess association. In 1894 he published a booklet with the Match Lasker-Steinitz (information gleaned from Stephen John Mann in Yorkshire Chess History) One of Paul Morphy's opponents in a simultaneous bandage performance he held at St. George's Club, London, in 1859, He was one of eight players who played against the master in the 1881 Zukertort simultaneous blindfold in Huddersfield. While residing in Leeds, he attended the annual West Yorkshire Chess Association meetings of 1878, 1881 and 1882. He was a collaborator, or assistant editor, in the British Chess Magazine in the 1890s, at least from 1892 to 1896.
Mar-13-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  louispaulsen88888888: 21. Qxb6+ is also good.

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