'The Morphy Trick' And A Special Memory.

Good afternoon everyone. 

Whilst most online chess watchers were trying to work out Rapport's wonderful brilliancy this week, I was also trying to follow another game. When Ivanchuk is playing - it feels strange to see him in the secondary tournament - he gets my attention!

I love 'playing along' when I can follow his games. I sit there trying to work out what I would do in his position. Well, he was playing the most fascinating game. I tried to decide what I would play, and then at the end went over it again. Then a third time with the engine running to try to work out what I had missed!

In the endgame I did spot his idea though - my regular readers will know that I love my endgames. All will be revealed later!

I was helped by the fact that I had learned the idea from Paul Morphy. He found an endgame idea that I have always called 'The Morphy Trick'. Essential endgame knowledge.

I have always considered what Morphy did against Daniel Harrwitz

to be the measure of his greatness. Harrwitz had the right to be considered the  best player in the world at the time. Morphy was - effectively - a full time player. Harrwitz was factually a full time player. The only two in the world at the time who you can say that about, although others made a living from the game in various ways. He also had plenty of serious match experience. Before their match Harrwitz won a 'casual game' - although Morphy clearly took such games very seriously - and then won the first two games of their match. 

From that point, with all the psychological factors and being behind in the match, Morphy just demonstrated everything great about his chess and scored 5 1/2 out of 6. Magnificent! This game was the first of that run.

He wasn't the best in more closed positions - he didn't need to be. He wasn't the greatest technically - he didn't need to be. But in this game he showed how great he could have become.

Well, 'The Morphy Trick' always reminds me of one of my own games. It didn't appear in that exact form, but the pattern was in my head during the game.

I thought I had lost the game forever, but luckily I recently found one of my old notebooks which contains it. That game is a special memory - as I talk about in the notes. It was a team match, and went to two sessions. On the next board was my dear friend Ritson ( William Ritson - Morry), who was just crushing Frank Wood - son of another dear friend, Barry (B.H.) Wood.

Two much missed and adored friends - sadly not of each other. I did my best, but some wounds are too deep to heal. What can you do?
Well, talking chess with Ritson was, beyond question, the greatest pleasure of my chess life, and this game was one of the last times I was able to do so. Luckily my opponent did not take offence. A special memory. I always feel sad talking about Ritson and Barry, because they are gone now, but also I feel lucky that they enjoyed spending time with some kid from a totally different social background, with much less chess ability. I hope I added something to their lives - they gave me so much.

As I was at the time, from the notebook. I was giving some simultaneous exhibitions for a disability charity at the time. I recall that for this one I was invited to do a talk at the schools assembly about raising money for charity. On my way through to the hall, I saw that there was still a photo on the wall with me still in it - in cricket gear - from the first time the school had won anything. While I was there I got injured, and all hopes of playing cricket for a living vanished. And that is how I ended up playing chess! No kidding.

Ah, all those kids are well into their 50's now!! And my hair is LONG gone.

So, onto the game which started all this! Just enjoy a visit to planet Chucky.

Thanks for the great day Vasyl. I hope you are well mate.