I'm astounded by Paul Morphy's style of chess. I read that the guy would give up pawns in order to make space for his pieces. One of his infamous games in my opinion is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 -Paul Morphy v Alonzo Morphy. He goes on to win in 15 moves. What's fascinating is that he has vision of the board that is "astounding." I would say that's what separates the great players from the phenomenal. Is there anyone that thinks along the Morphy path or that can be compared to him in ingenuity in the sense of sacrificing pawns?

Morphy's style as a child was described as throwing away pawns to let his piece through, but that was harldly Morphy's style of play.  Fischer once wrote that Morphy was the most accurate of players, however true or false that might be. While Morphy did indeed understand the value of pawns and pieces,  he also knew how to create positions that were ripe for exploitation through sacrifices.

I once put together a list of piece(s) sacrfices from Morphy's games.  It's pretty long, as about one third of Morphy's recorded games invovled piece sacs. but I'll post it below (games marked "variants" are odds games):

Morphys Sacrifices:

Queen sacs:

1. Morphy vs Le Carpentier 1-0 10.Nxe5 13 1849 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
2. Morphy vs NN 1-0 18.Qxg4 20 1849 New Orleans cg C39 King's Gambit Accepted
3. J McConnell vs Morphy 0-1 22...Qg1+ 23 1849 New Orleans C38 King's Gambit Accepted
4. Morphy vs E Morphy 1-0 22.Rb8 25 1850 New Orleans C52 Evans Gambit
5. Morphy vs E Morphy 1-0 22.Rb8 25 1850 New Orleans C52 Evans Gambit
6. Morphy vs NN 1-0 19.Ne5 20 1856 New Orleans cg C33 King's Gambit Accepted
7. C Stanley vs Morphy 0-1 18...f5 20 1857 New Orleans C33 King's Gambit Accepted
8. Morphy vs NN 1-0 23.Qxg7+ 27 1858 Blindsim C52 Evans Gambit
9. Morphy vs NN 1-0 17.Rxg6 23 1858 New Orleans C34 King's Gambit Accepted
10. Morphy vs S Smyth 1-0 33.Qxe6 36 1859 Philadelphia C01 French, Exchange
11. Morphy vs A Delannoy 1-0 29.Qxf6+ 30 1859 Paris 000 Chess variants
12. Morphy vs J Thompson 1-0 25.Qc6+ 26 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
13. Morphy vs B T Jefferson 1-0 22.Qf8+ 23 1859 New York (USA) C52 Evans Gambit

Knight sacs:

1. Morphy vs A Morphy 1-0 19.Ne5 46 1849 New Orleans C51 Evans Gambit
2. Morphy vs E Rousseau 1-0 10.Nce4 23 1849 New Orleans C50 Giuoco Piano
3. Morphy vs E Rousseau 1-0 6.Nxf7 17 1849 New Orleans C39 King's Gambit Accepted
4. Morphy vs A Morphy 1-0 19.Ne5 46 1849 New Orleans C51 Evans Gambit
5. Morphy vs NN 1-0 6.Nxf7 18 1850 ? 000 Chess variants
6. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 13.Nxh7 16 1854 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
7. Maurian vs Morphy 1-0 12.Nxc4 29 1854 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
8. Morphy vs Maurian 0-1 21...Rxh7 39 1854 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
9. Morphy vs A B Meek 1-0 8.Bxf4 19 1855 1280 C38 King's Gambit Accepted
10. Morphy vs Maurian 0-1 9...Nxd4 12 1855 New Orleans (?) 000 Chess variants
11. J Schulten vs Morphy 0-1 11...Ne3 30 1857 New York C33 King's Gambit Accepted
12. Morphy vs A B Meek 1-0 19.Nxg6 30 1857 American Chess Congress C00 French Defense
13. Morphy vs NN 1-0 6.Nxf7 17 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
14. Morphy vs NN 1-0 5.O-O 20 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
15. Morphy vs T Lichtenhein 1-0 12.d4 28 1857 New Orleans C36 K. G. Accepted, Abbazia Defense
16. Morphy vs Worrall 1-0 5.d4 22 1857 New Orleans? 000 Chess variants
17. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 5.d4 17 1857 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
18. Morphy vs C Stanley 1-0 22.Rxd4 43 1857 New C51 Evans Gambit
19. Morphy vs A B Meek 1-0 26.Nxd6 33 1857 New C52 Evans Gambit
20. Morphy vs NN 1-0 5.d4 19 1858 BFX New Orleans C37 King's Gambit Accepted
21. Morphy vs Adolf Anderssen 0-1 58...Qxh8 72 1858 It Paris C52 Evans Gambit
22. Morphy vs J Rhodes 1-0 27.Qe3+ 28 1858 BFX Birmingham C30 King's Gambit Declined
23. Morphy vs NN 1-0 8.Nxf7 23 1858 New Orleans - C55 Two Knights Defense
24. Morphy vs NN 1-0 12.Nxh7 25 1858 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
25. Morphy vs G Medley 1-0 12.Nh5 23 1858 Model game 3.3: development ab C39 K. G. Accepted
26. Morphy vs Maurian 0-1 36...Nxc7 44 1858 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
27. Morphy vs Duke Karl / Count Isouard 1-0 10.Nxb5 17 1858 Paris C41 Philidor Defense
28. Owen vs Morphy 0-1 11...Kg8 18 1858 London m 000 Chess variants
29. Morphy vs NN 1-0 5.d4 19 1858 New Orleans C37 King's Gambit Accepted
30. Morphy vs NN 1-0 5.O-O 28 1858 New Orleans C37 King's Gambit Accepted
31. Morphy vs Kipping 1-0 12.Nxe5 30 1858 Birmingham C52 Evans Gambit
32. Morphy vs T W Barnes 1-0 14.Qh4 38 1858 London m1 C42 Petrov Defense
33. Morphy vs Forde 1-0 9.Nxf7 23 1858 Blindsim C52 Evans Gambit
34. Morphy vs Bird 1-0 18.dxe4 27 1858 London LB C30 King's Gambit Declined
35. F Deacon vs Morphy 1-0 14.Nxf3 46 1858 London m/1 C38 King's Gambit Accepted
36. Morphy vs Bird 1-0 26.Nxf6+ 31 1858 London C51 Evans Gambit
37. Morphy vs BorneMann 1-0 23.Nb6+ 32 1858 Blindsim C30 King's Gambit Declined
38. Morphy vs Bird 1-0 15.Qd4 18 1858 London C39 King's Gambit Accepted
39. Morphy vs NN 1-0 5.d4 20 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
40. Morphy vs F Deacon 1-0 20.Nxf7 38 1859 London C52 Evans Gambit
41. Morphy vs T W Barnes 0-1 31...f5 38 1859 London C42 Petrov Defense
42. Morphy vs J Jones 1-0 6.O-O 22 1859 London C37 King's Gambit Accepted
43. Morphy vs Lowenthal 1-0 25.Nxb6+ 31 1859 It C51 Evans Gambit
44. Morphy vs Conway 1-0 5.d4 12 1859 New York C37 King's Gambit Accepted
45. Morphy vs H Knott 1-0 5.d4 27 1859 It C37 King's Gambit Accepted
46. Morphy vs J (odds) Meunier 1-0 22.Nxh5 27 1860 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
47. Morphy vs NN 1-0 5.d4 18 1860 Unknown C37 King's Gambit Accepted
48. De Riviere vs Morphy 0-1 17...Nf3+ 20 1863 Paris (1858 or 1859) C58 Two Knights
49. Morphy vs C St Leon 1-0 5.d4 29 1863 Paris 000 Chess variants
50. NN vs Morphy 0-1 16...Nxf2 23 1865 ? 000 Chess variants
51. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 5.d4 18 1866 New Orleans C37 King's Gambit Accepted
52. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 5.d4 16 1866 New Orleans C37 King's Gambit Accepted
53. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 5.d4 16 1869 New Orleans 000 Chess variants

Bishop sacs:

1. Morphy vs E Morphy 1-0 15.Bxf7+ 20 1849 New Orleans C53 Giuoco Piano
2. Morphy vs E Morphy 1-0 15.Bxf7+ 20 1849 New Orleans C53 Giuoco Piano
3. J McConnell vs Morphy 0-1 17...Bxf3 25 1850 It C52 Evans Gambit
4. Maurian vs Morphy 1-0 8.Bxc4 32 1854 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
5. Maurian vs Morphy 0-1 14...Bxh3 19 1854 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
6. Morphy vs Maurian 0-1 9...Nxd4 12 1855 New Orleans (?) 000 Chess variants
7. Morphy vs A D Ayers 1-0 22.Bc6+ 26 1855 Alabama C52 Evans Gambit
8. Morphy vs A Knight 1-0 7.Bxf7+ 17 1856 New Orleans cg C37 King's Gambit Accepted
9. Morphy vs A Reif 1-0 15.fxe5 24 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
10. T Lichtenhein vs Morphy 0-1 32...Bxb3+ 34 1857 USA-01.Kongress A80 Dutch
11. Morphy vs Paulsen 1-0 7.Ndb5 26 1857 New York USA-ch 4th match B40 Sicilian
12. Morphy vs D Julien 1-0 8.Bxf7+ 22 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
13. Morphy vs Adolf Anderssen 1-0 9.Nd5 17 1858 Paris m B44 Sicilian
14. Morphy vs NN 1-0 19.Ne5 33 1858 London C51 Evans Gambit
15. Morphy vs NN 1-0 12.Nxh7 25 1858 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
16. Owen vs Morphy 0-1 30...Bh3 33 1858 London m 000 Chess variants
17. Morphy vs T Lichtenhein 0-1 41...Bxe6 43 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
18. Morphy vs R Stone 1-0 28.Bxh7+ 30 1859 It C51 Evans Gambit
19. Morphy vs F Perrin 1-0 21.Bxg4 42 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
20. Morphy vs T Lichtenhein 1-0 22.Bxc5 27 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
21. Morphy vs C (odds) Nicholson 1-0 20.Bxg5 22 1859 Baltimore 000 Chess variants
22. Morphy vs B Tilghman 1-0 13.Nd5+ 24 1859 Philadelphia C37 King's Gambit Accepted
23. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 5.d4 18 1866 New Orleans C37 King's Gambit Accepted

Rook sacs:

1. Morphy vs NN 1-0 8.f5 22 1856 New Orleans cg C25 Vienna
2. Morphy vs F Perrin 1-0 15.Rxd4 23 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
3. Morphy vs D Julien 1-0 19.Rxe5+ 20 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
4. Morphy vs J Schulten 1-0 24.Rxb7 34 1857 New C51 Evans Gambit
5. T Lichtenhein vs Morphy 0-1 17...Bh3 19 1857 New York C44 King's Pawn Game
6. Morphy vs Paulsen 1-0 61.Rxd4+ 64 1857 New York USA-ch 4th match B40 Sicilian
7. T W Barnes vs Morphy 0-1 12...Ne5 30 1858 London C77 Ruy Lopez
8. Morphy vs Adolf Anderssen 1-0 8.Bxf4 23 1858 Paris player 1 C39 King's Gambit Accepted
9. Staunton / Owen vs Morphy / Barnes 0-1 15...Qe7 34 1858 London C41 Philidor Defense
10. Morphy vs NN 1-0 30.Rxg7+ 33 1858 Blindsim C52 Evans Gambit
11. Morphy vs H Baucher 1-0 25.Rxh6+ 29 1858 blindfold simul C41 Philidor Defense
12. Bird vs Morphy 0-1 17...Rxf2 29 1858 London C41 Philidor Defense
13. Morphy vs J Thompson 0-1 28...Rxh2+ 31 1859 New York m 000 Chess variants
14. Morphy vs H Montgomery 1-0 20.Rxf6 28 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
15. Morphy vs Mongredien 1-0 21.Nd6 24 1859 Paris, Februar C51 Evans Gambit
16. Morphy vs A Bousserolles 1-0 27.Rxe6 31 1859 Paris C50 Giuoco Piano

Knight + Bishop sac:

1. Morphy vs Maurian 0-1 9...Nxd4 12 1855 New Orleans (?) 000 Chess variants
2. Morphy vs NN 1-0 12.Nxh7 25 1858 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
3. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 5.d4 18 1866 New Orleans C37 King's Gambit Accepted

Sacrificing the Exchange:

1. Morphy vs Lowenthal 1-0 48.Rxc5 49 1850 New Orleans B21 Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4
2. Morphy vs Lowenthal 1-0 13.Nxd5 55 1850 New Orleans C42 Petrov Defense
3. Morphy vs Maurian 0-1 22...f3 26 1854 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
4. Morphy vs Maurian 0-1 15...f5 27 1854 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
5. Morphy vs NN 1-0 18.Rxe5 20 1855 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
6. J Schulten vs Morphy 0-1 13...Rxe2 21 1857 New York m blind C31 K.G.D. Falkbeer Counter Gambit
7. J Schulten vs Morphy 0-1 17...Bxh2+ 28 1857 New York C33 King's Gambit Accepted
8. Morphy vs A Perrin 1-0 21.Rxg7+ 25 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
9. B Raphael vs Morphy 0-1 15...O-O-O 26 1857 New Orleans C33 King's Gambit Accepted
10. C Stanley vs Morphy 0-1 23...Rxf3 28 1857 New York m 000 Chess variants
11. J Schulten vs Morphy 0-1 19...Rxc6 25 1857 New Orleans C33 King's Gambit Accepted
12. C Stanley vs Morphy 0-1 16...Qf6 30 1857 New York m 000 Chess variants
13. Morphy vs D Julien 1-0 15.Rxd6 23 1857 New York 000 Chess variants
14. Maurian vs Morphy 0-1 23...Bxe5 28 1857 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
15. N Marache vs Morphy 0-1 13...Qg6 20 1857 New C52 Evans Gambit
16. C Stanley vs Morphy 1-0 11.d4 20 1857 New Orleans C33 King's Gambit Accepted
17. Morphy vs NN 1-0 18.Rxe5 20 1857 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
18. J Thompson vs Morphy 0-1 17...Rxf3 42 1857 New C52 Evans Gambit
19. Morphy vs J Schulten 1-0 22.Rxe7 25 1857 New C51 Evans Gambit
20. Paulsen vs Morphy 1-0 30.Rxd7 34 1857 New York USA-ch 4th match C46 Three Knights
21. Morphy vs T Lichtenhein 1-0 19.Rxe6 26 1857 New C51 Evans Gambit
22. Morphy vs Paulsen 1-0 19.Rxe7+ 54 1857 New York blind C40 King's Knight Opening
23. A B Meek vs Morphy 0-1 17...Qxc3 30 1857 New Orleans C44 King's Pawn Game
24. Adolf Anderssen vs Morphy 1-0 62.Re7 77 1858 10 A00 Uncommon Opening
25. Owen vs Morphy 0-1 13...Rxf3 21 1858 London m 000 Chess variants
26. Morphy vs NN 1-0 27.Rxf6 33 1858 New Orleans C51 Evans Gambit
27. Morphy vs Owen 1-0 24.Rxc6 35 1858 London m2 B00 Uncommon King's Pawn Opening
28. Morphy vs Lowenthal 1-0 20.Rxf7 31 1858 London C30 King's Gambit Declined
29. Morphy vs S Boden 1-0 42.Rxf4+ 53 1858 London C51 Evans Gambit
30. Morphy vs T W Barnes 1-0 20.Qe2 29 1858 London m1 C41 Philidor Defense
31. Morphy vs S Boden 1-0 28.Bxd5 35 1858 London C30 King's Gambit Declined
32. T W Barnes vs Morphy 0-1 31...Rxg6 40 1858 London m1 C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
33. T W Barnes vs Morphy 0-1 9...Qf5 24 1858 London m1 C41 Philidor Defense
34. Harrwitz vs Morphy 1-0 30.Rd3 47 1858 Paris (player 1) C39 King's Gambit Accepted
35. Morphy vs Harrwitz 1-0 31.Rxh7+ 35 1858 It C41 Philidor Defense
36. F Devinck vs Morphy 0-1 19...Rxf3 25 1858 Paris 000 Chess variants
37. Adolf Anderssen vs Morphy 1-0 15.Nxe4 32 1858 Paris player 1 C39 King's Gambit Accepted
38. Owen vs Morphy 0-1 13...Kf8 37 1858 London m 000 Chess variants
39. Morphy vs J Budzinsky 1-0 15.Rxe7+ 24 1859 Paris C42 Petrov Defense
40. Morphy vs J Thompson 1-0 31.Rxb4 34 1859 New York m 000 Chess variants
41. Morphy vs De Riviere 0-1 15...Rxf7 44 1859 Paris, C51 Evans Gambit
42. Morphy vs O Michaelis 0-1 23...Rxf5 39 1859 New York or 1860 000 Chess variants
43. Morphy vs G (odds) Cheney 0-1 16...Qxc3 46 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
44. Morphy vs D Julien 1-0 12.Bg5 19 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
45. Morphy vs Ware 1-0 25.Rxh6 28 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
46. Morphy vs J Thompson 0-1 26...Bd8 30 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
47. Morphy vs T Lichtenhein 1-0 14.Rxd7 26 1859 New York 000 Chess variants
48. Lowenthal vs Morphy 1-0 37.Rxe5 38 1859 London C78 Ruy Lopez
49. Morphy vs Bird 1-0 13.Rxf6 46 1859 London C35 King's Gambit Accepted, Cunningham
50. Morphy vs Schrufer 1-0 11.Rxe6+ 24 1859 Paris (1858 or ) C56 Two Knights
51. Morphy vs De Riviere 1-0 21.Rxd4 25 1859 Paris C51 Evans Gambit
52. Morphy vs De Riviere 1-0 39.Rxf5+ 40 1863 Paris C51 Evans Gambit
53. Morphy vs P Capdevielle 1-0 11.Bxe4 36 1864 (one of 10) C51 Evans Gambit
54. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 22.Rxd4 30 1866 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
55. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 17.Rxe7+ 28 1866 New Orleans 000 Chess variants
56. Morphy vs Maurian 1-0 21.Rxe3 25 1869 New Orleans 000 Chess variants

Crikey!

Do you know the extent of Morphy's influence on Tal's play?

Wow!  Great compilation.  I'll look up some of those games.  I see several of Morphy's wins on the list were against that sap NN who has been losing for hundreds of years. 

Take any top GM in their youth... as a teenage GM that is, and have them play amateurs and you'd get the same results.  Not that he wasn't great -- but yes you can compare modern players to him, however all the very strong players today don't bother with no names.

Morphy played the best in the world at the time - except for Staunton, who avoided him like the plague.  He revolutionized the game by demonstrating the importance of central position and development.  And he did it as an amateur, killing time until he could get his license to practice law in Louisiana at 21.

The first game cited is an Evan's Gambit, though - a old-style opening very popular in the first half of the 19th Century. 

Thank you batgirl for the exhaustive list. Do you know of any other chess players that thought along the same lines as Morphy?

A source of encouragement, as always.