Opera Game

The Opera Game was played in Paris in 1858. Paul Morphy had White against Duke Karl II of Brunswick and Count Isouard, who formed one side and consulted before choosing Black's moves. Morphy won in seventeen moves during an opera performance, although the surviving historical evidence does not establish every detail of the occasion with certainty. This was an informal consultation game, not a tournament round or an official match.

In his 1859 book, Frederick Milnes Edge describes his frequent visits with Morphy to the duke’s box at the Italian Opera, where chess was played during performances. This is testimony about the social setting of the encounter, not a reliable identification of every circumstance of this particular game.

Why the game is taught

The choice of 8.Nc3 captures the direction of the game: Morphy develops another piece rather than taking the b7-pawn. When he later gives up material, he already has forces capable of using the lines he opens.

The lesson is not that every sacrifice is sound. Morphy's attack worked because he had more developed pieces, better coordination, and immediate access to the enemy king. The final combination followed from those advantages rather than from an isolated trick.

Edward Lasker included the game in the chapter on the opening in Chess Strategy to explain how delayed development can lead to further losses of time. This reading goes beyond admiration for the mate: it also draws attention to the defender’s gradually narrowing choices.