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 Meek Alexander Beaufort Meek (1814-1865) was a prominent American politician, writer, poet, layer, judge, and chess player.
Paul MorphyPaul 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 time, "The Pride and Sorrow of Chess".

2 articles on Paul Morphy


10 Responses

  1. Andreas
    Andreas at

    Qe7-h4
    2. g2-g3 Ne5-f3+
    3. Kh2-h1 Rg6xg3
    4. f2xg3 Qh4xg3
    5. Qa8-g8+ Kh7xg8
    6. Rf1-d1 Qg3-g2#

    Reply
  2. naidji nouri
    naidji nouri at

    1. Rh8-d8+ Qe7xd8
    2. Qf5-e6+ Kd6-c5
    3. Nd4-b3+ Kc5-b4
    4. Qe6-e4#

    Reply
  3. Younes
    Younes at

    1. ……..,Bh3xg2
    2. Bc1-g5 Qe7xg5
    3. Qa8-f8 Qg5-h4+
    4. Kh2-g1 Bg2-f3#

    Reply
  4. chessenefrega
    chessenefrega at

    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!

    Reply
  5. Reza
    Reza at

    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.

    Reply
  6. Simon
    Simon at

    Picking up on Andreas’s first move, may I suggest:
    1. … Qe7-h4
    2. g2-g3 Ne5-f3+
    3. Kh2-h1 Bh3xRf1+
    4. g3xQh4 Rg6-g1#
    A more elegant outcome, in my eyes, especially with the Queen sac. However, White could spoil the 4-move target with the ‘spite’ check 2. Qa8-g8+.

    If 2. Qf8 (preventing Black’s Nf3+), then
    2. … Bh3xg2+ still leads to a 4-move mate.
    An enjoyable puzzle.

    Reply
  7. Christina Stone
    Christina Stone at

    Bxg2 Bg5
    Qxg5 Qf8
    Nf3+ Qxf3
    Bxf3 Rg1
    Qh4#

    The easier one so far. I didn’t see this version.

    Reply
  8. Harish
    Harish at

    Qa5 Bb4
    Rxb4 Qb1+
    Kxb1 d6
    Bxb7 Kb8
    Qa8#

    Reply
  9. john loi
    john loi at

    1. Bxg2 Bg5
    2. Qxg5 Qf8
    3. Qh4+ Kg1
    4. Bxe4#

    Reply
  10. Warren
    Warren at

    Am i the only one who got 1Nf3+ gxf3 2qd5+ f4 3 qh5, whatever black plays next move mate?

    Reply
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