Daily Tactic January 20, 2014

Morphy-Bornemann, Paris simul, 1858. The Black Queen is on the same diagonal as the Black King. Is there a way to exploit that? White to move.

Daily Tactic January 16, 2014

Morphy-Baucher, Paris simul, 1858. White to move and win at least a piece.

Daily Tactic January 12, 2014

Harrwitz, Daniel - Morphy, Paul, Paris, 1858.

Harrwitz lived in England from 1849, and founded the British Chess Review. In 1856 he moved to Paris, where he won a match against Jules Arnous de Rivière. In 1858 he played a match against Paul Morphy in Paris. Harrwitz won the first two games, but lost the match 5½-2½. Wikipedia

White is threatening to win black's c-pawn and to promote his own. Morphy makes a simple but instructive maneuver. Black to move.

Daily Tactic January 9, 2014

Medley - Morphy. London, 1858. Black (Morphy) to move and win a pawn.

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 7, 2014

Barnes, Thomas Wilson - Morphy, Paul, London, 1858.

Barnes was one of the leading British chess masters at the time of Paul Morphy's visit to the UK in 1858. Barnes had the happy fortune of having the best record against Morphy during the latter's visit, winning eight games and losing nineteen. wikipedia

Black (Morphy) to move. Can you see his surprising move and why it is winning?

Daily Tactic January 6, 2014

Morphy, Paul - Paulsen, Louis, New York, 1857. First American Chess Congress (1857)

The first American Chess Congress, organized by Daniel Willard Fiske and held in New York, October 6 to November 10, 1857, was won by Paul Morphy. ... First prize was $300. Morphy refused any money, but accepted a silver service consisting of a pitcher, four goblets, and a tray. Morphy’s prize was given to him by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

White to move. How does Morphy finish the game quickly?