Chess lessons › Famous chess games
Morphy’s queen sacrifice
Morphy gives his queen for a bishop to open the g-file, and Paulsen’s king never finds a safe square.
The idea
Morphy gives his queen for a bishop to open the g-file.
- White’s queen is far away, and only the g2 pawn guards the bishop.
- Black’s queen takes the bishop. If the pawn takes back, the g-file opens.
- Then the rook comes to g6 with check, and the bishops join in.
In a game: When only pawns guard the enemy king, look for a sacrifice that pulls one away.
How the lesson begins
Louis Paulsen has White and Paul Morphy has Black, at the First American Chess Congress in New York, 1857. White takes a pawn, Black wins it back, and all four knights come off.
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. O-O O-O Both sides castle on the kingside.
- 6. Nxe5 White’s knight takes the pawn on e5.
- 6... Re8 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Bc4 b5 9. Be2 Nxe4 Black’s knight takes the pawn on e4, so the material is level again.
- 10. Nxe4 Rxe4 The rook takes back on e4. All four knights are gone.
White spends moves on the queenside, while Black’s queen goes to d3 and both black rooks come to the e-file. Watch the bishop on f3 and White’s queen.
- 11. Bf3 The bishop drops back to f3. For now the queen on d1 and the pawn on g2 guard it.
- 11... Re6 12. c3 Qd3 Black’s queen jumps to d3. White’s d-pawn cannot move, so the bishop on c1 is shut in.
- 13. b4 Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 White’s queen takes back on a4. It no longer guards the bishop on f3.
- 15... Bd7 16. Ra2 Rae8 17. Qa6 White’s queen goes to a6, far from its king.
Find the move
Black to move. The bishop on f3 is guarded only by the pawn on g2. Find Morphy’s move.
A hint
Take the bishop, even though the pawn can take your queen.
Show the answer
17... Qxf3
Qxf3! gives the queen for the bishop. Only the g2 pawn can take back, and then the g-file is open in front of White’s king, with Black’s rook on e6 ready to use it.