Morphy and Pillsbury Sac and Mate Part 2

How Master Morphy Made His Mate Part 2...By, Ms Jessica Martin (aka BoundingOwl)

Buona sera!  (Good afternoon!)  It's time to see how Morphy and Pillsbury employed their masterful checkmates.  Bishops and rooks in action!

 

Remember the pattern: 

1.  A bishop guarding the long diagonal or seatbelting the king.

2.  A rook on the g file (when the king is castled kingside).

(Notice how you don't really need a queen for this mate?  hint hint)

 

 

 

Finish it off!  Here's a hint:  each move is forcing---but forcing can mean CHECKS, THREATS, or CAPTURES.  Both bishops will participate in the checkmate.

 

 

 

 

Here is the amazing part of Pillsbury's game where he also sacs his queen!

 

 

 

 

Now what?  Pretend you're Pillsbury make a mate!

 

 

 

 

Excellent work!  If you are curious, you should look up more games by Morphy and Pillsbury.  This last game between Pillsbury and Lee was only 16 moves long!  That's called a miniature.  We are fortunate that even though they played over 100 years ago, they wrote their moves down!  So now we can replay and learn from the old masters.  Do you notate your games, too?  Learn some history and be a part of it!