Opera Game • Morphy vs Brunswick/Isouard • Paris, France (1858) • Philidor Defense (C41)
Francisco Yepes Barrera
1 min read
Iesha Reyes - https://unsplash.com/photos/chessboard-with-pieces-set-up-for-a-game-iOBh0G5OvM4
Picture Paris in late 1858, amid the glittering Théâtre-Italien opera house during a performance of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville—no structured tournament, just an informal consultation match in Duke Karl II of Brunswick’s lavish box. American virtuoso Paul Morphy, the 21-year-old chess sensation dominating Europe on his triumphant tour, dazzled two noble amateurs teaming as Black: German royal Duke Karl of Brunswick, a board-carrying enthusiast, and French aristocrat Count Isouard de Vauvenargues, who huddled over every move while Morphy, seated facing the stage, multitasked between board and show.
Morphy blasted the Philidor Defense open with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4 4.dxe5, exploiting Bxf3 5.Qxf3 dxe5 6.Bc4 for massive development edge. Black’s Nf6 Qe7 Nc3 b5?? invited the tactical storm: Nxb5!! cxb5?? Bxb5+ Nbd7 O-O-O, piling rooks via Rxd7 Rxd7 Rd1. The climax hit with Qb8+!! Nxb8 Rd8#, a checkmating discovery after the queen sac cleared paths—pure harmony where every White piece pinned or attacked, leaving nobles speechless amid the opera’s applause.
