Lesson of the Week

Thomas Wilson Barnes scored more wins against Paul Morphy than any other adversary. Barnes won seven games. Morphy did not travel well, and Barnes benefited from Morphy playing less than his best as he recovered from the sea voyage. Nonetheless, Morphy dominated the match, winning nineteen games.

This week's lesson comes from one of Morphy's first games in England. Morphy's play offers instruction to young players concerning pins.


Barnes,Thomas Wilson - Morphy,Paul [C77]
London m1 London, 1858

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nd5 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.0–0 Bg4 9.c3 Ba5 10.d4 exd4 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Bd5 Ne5 13.Bxa8 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 Bxf3 15.Qd2 dxc3 16.Qg5 cxb2 17.Bc6+ Ke7 18.Qxf6+ gxf6 19.Bf4 Rg8+ 20.Bg3 bxa1Q 21.Rxa1 f5 22.a4 Bb6 23.axb5

Black to move

23...f4 24.bxa6 fxg3 25.hxg3 Rxg3+ 26.Kh2

If 26.Kf1, the game might have continued Rh3 27.Ke1 Rh1+ 28.Kd2 Rxa1

26...Rg6

26...Rg2+ seems obvious, and is more accurate. 27.Kh3 Rg6.

27.Rf1

Black to move

27...Bd4 28.Kh3 Be5 29.Kh4 Bf4 30.a7 Rh6# 0–1


Beginning Tactics

Players in my clubs are becoming accustomed to starting with a worksheet with six to nine problems. White moves first in all problems for the worksheet, Beginning Tactics 8.