Alexander Meek vs. Paul Morphy
Dramatic end game at New Orleans, 1885. Alexander Beaufort Meek with whites was playing against Paul Morphy with the blacks. The puzzle illustrates the Morphy’s way to win in 4. Can you find this solution?
Roll over to see the solution: 1... Bxg2 2. Qh8+ Kxh8 3. Bg5 Qxg5 4. Rfe1 Nf3#
FEN: Q7/p1p1q1pk/3p2rp/4n3/3bP3/7b/PP3PPK/R1B2R2 b - - 0 1
About the players
Alexander Beaufort Meek (1814-1865) was a prominent American politician, writer, poet, layer, judge and chess player.
Paul Charles Morphy (1837-1884) American chess player, considered the greatest of his time and unofficial World Chess Champion.
Bobby Fischer ranked him among the 10th best chess players of all times, "The Pride and Sorrow of Chess".
Qe7-h4
2. g2-g3 Ne5-f3+
3. Kh2-h1 Rg6xg3
4. f2xg3 Qh4xg3
5. Qa8-g8+ Kh7xg8
6. Rf1-d1 Qg3-g2#
1. Rh8-d8+ Qe7xd8
2. Qf5-e6+ Kd6-c5
3. Nd4-b3+ Kc5-b4
4. Qe6-e4#
1. ……..,Bh3xg2
2. Bc1-g5 Qe7xg5
3. Qa8-f8 Qg5-h4+
4. Kh2-g1 Bg2-f3#
1. ……..,Bh3xg2
2. Bc1-g5 Qe7xg5
3. Qa8-f8 Qg5-h4+
4. Kh2-g1 Bg2-f3#
it’s ok
but instead 3. Qa8-f8: 3. Qa8-h8+ (or g8+) Kxh8 (or Kxg8)
4. f2-f4 (if 4. … Nf3+ 5. Rxf3)
4. … Qg5-h4+
5. Kh2-g1 Bg2-f3#
Mate in 5 moves and not 4!
This was not a puzzle. It was blunder for white to move the rook and queen and the bishop. He is basically giving black free moves.