Daily Tactic January 8, 2014

Owen, John - Morphy, Paul, London, 1858. Morphy played this game in London, 1858, against John Owen at "pawn and move" odds -- as Black and without his f-pawn. Owen just moved Re1-e3 to protect the vulnerable f2 and f3 squares. Can you see how Morphy finished him off?

Daily Tactic January 1, 2014

Morphy-Rousseau, New Orleans 1849. In today's game Eugene Rosseau has just played 13. ...d5 attacking Morphy's queen. Twelve year old Morphy plays this brilliantly! White to Move:

Daily Tactic December 30, 2013

Morphy-Jefferson, New York simul, 1859. This game ends with the mating pattern know as Philidor's Legacy. Morphy sets it up with two Deflection moves. To help learn this pattern and solidify it, practice going over the final moves in your head from move 19. Qa3+ to the end. Once you learn the pattern or if you already know it, go over the game in your head from move 17. e5! onwards to practice your visualization skills.

Deflection is forcing an enemy piece away from some useful position. In this game Morphy deflects the black queen off of the d8-h4 diagonal.

Decoying is attracting an enemy piece to a square useful for you. In this game as part of the final mating pattern, a black rook is decoyed to the f8 square.

Daily Tactic December 29, 2013

Morphy-Julien, New York simul, 1859. This knight odds game features a double attack and multiple deflections. Morphy's 12. Bg5! and 19. Rd1+ are great examples of deflection and 13. Qxb7+ is a double attack threatening the rook on a8 and mate in three.