---
title: A night at the opera
description: Follow Paul Morphy’s 17-move masterpiece, one position at a time.
---

[@chess-components]: ./chess.components.md

# A night at the opera

**Paul Morphy · Paris, 1858 · 1–0**

Follow Morphy's 17-move win against the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard.
Watch how he brings his pieces into the attack, opens lines, and sacrifices
material to reach the king.

[@link.play Follow the game](#morphy:ply-0)

Step through with **Next** and **Prev**, or select a move from the score.
Notes explain the key positions.

<chess-game
id="morphy"
orientation="white"
pieces="./assets/pieces/wood"
>

  <template data-chess-pgn>
[Event "A Night at the Opera"]
[Site "Paris FRA"]
[Date "1858.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paul Morphy"]
[Black "Duke Karl / Count Isouard"]
[Result "1-0"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5
6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. Nc3 c6 9. Bg5 b5 10. Nxb5 cxb5
11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O Rd8 13. Rxd7 Rxd7 14. Rd1 Qe6
15. Bxd7+ Nxd7 16. Qb8+ Nxb8 17. Rd8# 1-0
  </template>

  <chess-note ply="0" title="Bring the pieces into play">
    Watch White's pieces enter the game while Black's king stays in the center.
    Morphy turns that lead in development into a direct attack.
  </chess-note>

  <chess-note ply="7" title="4. dxe5">
    White captures on e5, clearing the d-file of White's pawn. After Black
    exchanges the bishop for the knight on f3, White recaptures with the queen.
  </chess-note>

  <chess-note ply="13" title="7. Qb3">
    The queen attacks b7 and f7. Black replies with `Qe7`, placing the queen
    in front of the bishop on f8.
  </chess-note>

  <chess-note ply="19" title="10. Nxb5">
    Morphy sacrifices a knight to open a line toward the king. After `cxb5`,
    the bishop takes on b5 with check, forcing Black to respond.
  </chess-note>

  <chess-note ply="23" title="12. O-O-O">
    Castling brings the king to safety and the rook to d1. The rook now
    attacks down the open d-file.
  </chess-note>

  <chess-note ply="29" title="15. Bxd7+">
    The bishop captures the rook with check. After `Nxd7`, Morphy offers
    his queen on b8 to draw the knight away from d8.
  </chess-note>

  <chess-note ply="33" title="17. Rd8#">
    The rook delivers checkmate on d8, protected by the bishop on g5.
    Those two pieces finish the attack after the queen sacrifice.
  </chess-note>
</chess-game>


## Build an annotated game

Create your own replay with a move list in PGN (Portable Game Notation) and
notes for specific positions. The [component source](./chess.components.md)
walks through the code with examples. Or [play a game](./play.demo.md) yourself.

<x-docs-source-link />